- California, USA -
UPDATE on 29-year-old PAUL JOSEPH SOUTER and 26-year-old SHELBY LYNNE LUJAN (both pictured below).
On Friday, November 20, a San Mateo County Superior Court jury found SOUTER and LUJAN guilty of one animal cruelty charge in the death of Sprocket, a 2-year-old Maltipoo dog.
News Break reports that “San Mateo District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said both defendants were found guilty of allowing an animal to suffer unnecessary cruelty, intentional or reckless negligence.”
Mr. Wagstaffe rightfully said: “Animals never deserve to be taunted or harmed.”
~ Original story:
On April 9, 2016, SOUTER was watching LUJAN’s dog Sprocket while she was at school.
Under SOUTER’s watch, the furbaby sustained severe burns.
The incident happened at LUJAN’s home in San Bruno.
SOUTER told LUJAN he accidentally spilled a cup of hot water over Sprocket.
According to the DA’s office, after the incident, neither of them sought medical help for the injured furbaby.
The following month, on May 1, 2016, LUJAN took Sprocket to North Peninsula Veterinary Emergency Clinic in San Bruno.
Veterinarians determined that the furbaby had suffered third-degree burns on 40% of his body.
The burns were infected, and Sprocket was in shock.
Sadly, Sprocket died within hours.
A forensic examiner concluded Sprocket couldn’t have suffered the injuries from spilled water and that they had to be intentionally inflicted.
These devils were arraigned in January 2017.
Their trial started on Monday, December 9, 2019, and it was assigned to judge Clifford Cretan.
SOUTER was charged with two felonies for inflicting harm on an animal and failing to provide care.
LUJAN was charged with one felony count of animal cruelty for failing to provide care to an animal.
Previously, a condition that the pair not be allowed to live with animals was lifted so they could live with their parents, who allegedly had animals, as long as they did not own or care for the animals.
The despicable couple are scheduled to be sentenced on January 29, 2021.
In the meantime, they are out of custody on bail enjoying life and freedom.
Sprocket had the right to enjoy a torture-free life! He had the right to be loved!
Hopefully the judge will take this into account!
San Mateo District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said the maximum penalty is three years.
A joke!!!