ARIZONA -- A trial date could be set or a plea offer could be accepted at the next hearing for the Yuma man who has been charged with shooting and attempting to bury his roommate’s dog.
During a brief hearing in Yuma County Superior Court on Wednesday, attorney Kristen McManus, who represents Anthony Hultine, said she and the prosecution have reached a tentative plea agreement.
As a result, she requested Superior Court Judge Maria Elena Cruz set a court date some time next week for either a change of plea hearing or a hearing to schedule a trial.
Hultine, who is out of custody on his own recognizance, has been charged with three felonies: one count of disorderly conduct, one count of cruelty to animals and one count of criminal damage.
When Cruz asked if there were any victims in the case present who would like to be heard, Yuma resident Susan-Jean Campbell stood and asked to speak on behalf of the Humane Society of Yuma.
McManus, however, said Campbell should not be allowed to make a statement because she is not listed as a victim in the case.
Cruz explained to Campbell that while, in a sense, the community as a whole may be a victim to such a crime, as far as the statute is concerned, statutes regarding victims' rights are very specific as to who may speak on behalf of a victim, and her entity did not have a right to speak at the hearing.
Cruz then set Hultine's next court date for 8:30 a.m. Aug. 26, at which time he would be able to accept the plea agreement or she would set a trial date.
After the hearing Campbell, who is also the founder of the Facebook page Yuma Proud Pet Owners, said she asked to speak at the hearing because she wanted to express her concern that the case be given the seriousness it was due.
"Animals need a voice, too. We are the only ones they have," Campbell said. "Brady, the dog he shot, is dead now. She died of a seizure."
In May, deputies with the Yuma County Sheriff's Office met with the dog's owner at the time, who told them that he had found the black and white pit bull mix canine, believed to be 8 to 12 months old, as a stray and decided to keep her after he couldn’t find her previous owner.
The owner also told deputies that he had traveled out of town and left the dog with his roommate, identified as Hultine. He stated that Hultine told him he had become angry with the dog after she had “made a mess” at their home and took her out to the Blaisdell area, where he shot the dog and attempted to bury her.
The dog was later found on April 26 in the 12400 block of East County 8th Street by a second person, who discovered that it had a gunshot wound. That person then made posts on social media in an attempt to locate her owner. The owner saw those posts and went to claim her.
The dog had suffered fractures to her maxillary sinus cavity, maxillary premolars and mandible. Those injuries were consistent with that of a gunshot wound, and the dog was taken to a local veterinary clinic where she underwent surgery.
On May 4, deputies served a search warrant at the home of the roommate suspected of shooting the dog and found weapons and ammunition. As a result, Hultine was arrested and booked into the Yuma County Detention Center on felony charges of animal cruelty.
(Yuma Sun - Aug 5, 2015)
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