Vernal man, Monte Cuch, beat puppy with bat, police say

UTAH -- Prosecutors have filed a felony charge against a Vernal man accused of beating his mother's mixed-breed puppy with a baseball bat, causing substantial trauma to the dog's head and breaking one of its legs.

Monte Cuch, 23, is charged in 8th District Court with torture of a companion animal, a third-degree felony. He made his first court appearance Wednesday.

Witnesses told investigators they were in their garage on the night of May 1 when they heard a dog yelping, according to Uintah County Sheriff's Cpl. Dustin Cheshire. The witnesses knew their neighbor, Cuch's mother, had a young Labrador-golden retriever mix, so they went outside and looked across the street.

"They could see in through a window and could see (Cuch) swinging something," Cheshire said, describing the object as "a small wooden bat."

Witnesses said they crossed the street, knocked on the door and Cuch answered. They said they could see that the dog, who is less than a year old, was severely injured, Cheshire said.

Cuch allegedly told the witnesses the animal bit his arm. However, the witnesses told deputies when Cuch showed them his arm, there wasn't a bite mark. Cheshire said one of the witnesses took a small bat from Cuch and tossed it outside as the dog ran from the house

The witnesses caught the dog before calling police. Cheshire said the animal had a "blown out eye socket and was bleeding from several spots." Cuch refused to answer the door for deputies and was not arrested, Cheshire said.

The bat was seized as evidence and an animal control officer was called to take custody of the dog and assume responsibility for the criminal investigation.

Tina Williams, executive director of the Uintah Animal Control and Shelter District, said the puppy suffered a fractured shoulder, a broken leg and head trauma. Cuch's mother agreed to release the dog to the shelter and it has since been adopted, Williams said.

An attorney assigned Wednesday to represent Cuch declined to comment on the case, saying he hadn't yet had a chance to review the evidence.

Court records show Cuch, who also uses the name Monte Esparza, has prior convictions for sexual battery, lewdness and violation of a protective order. He is due back in court July 8 for a preliminary hearing in the animal torture case.

(KSL - May 29, 2015)