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Not guilty plea in tortoise case
Man accused of harming animal
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Mosqueda
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More from Local NewsA Ventura man on Monday pleaded not guilty to animal cruelty in connection with the mutilation of Bob, a 40-pound tortoise taken July 7 from a Ventura family.
Jose "Tony" Mosqueda, 18, who was in custody in lieu of a $100,000 bail, appeared before Ventura County Superior Court Judge Kevin McGee.
McGee set the next court hearing for July 31, and a preliminary hearing for Aug. 2.
The African spurred tortoise, who was abducted, slashed and mutilated, is now out of critical care and recovering at an animal rehabilitation center in Montecito.
Mosqueda, who is being represented by the Public Defender's Office, is facing up to three years in prison for the felony crime, said Deputy District Attorney Wendy Macfarlane. She said the charge is a felony because of the severity of the tortoise's injuries.
Police called Bob's abduction and mutilation one of the worst incidents of animal abuse in Ventura in years.
The 25-year-old tortoise belongs to Dorothy and Bill Sullivan of Ventura. It is a special friend to the Sullivans' 6-year-old autistic son, who rarely spoke to people but often chattered to the animal.
Outside the courtroom, Dorothy Sullivan said she hopes Mosqueda gets a stiff sentence.
"Somebody that was this callous and cold-hearted that they could attack a defenseless animal is somebody who has a serious issue," she said. "He has problems and needs counseling, something of this nature."
Macfarlane said Mosqueda has never been arrested for animal cruelty.
Mosqueda's sister, Celia Ramirez, said her brother has never been arrested for any crime.
Ramirez, who became tearful at times during an interview after the hearing, said her brother wouldn't hurt an animal. She said he has two pet snakes and recently gave one away. He also has an iguana, and the family has a pit bull dog, Ramirez said, adding that her brother once owned a turtle.
"He's never been cruel to none of his animals, not even to us," Ramirez said. She said her brother told her he didn't commit the crime he is accused of.
"He's not capable. I know he is not," she said. "They (witnesses) say that they've seen him and his friends do it. Why is my brother the only one in jail?"
She said her brother has an alibi that places him at a different location when the tortoise was mutilated.
"We were home that day, and my other brother who lives in Oxnard was with us. We were having a barbecue," Ramirez said. "We were all there. The whole time."
Meanwhile, the tortoise's health continues to improve at the animal rehabilitation center in Montecito.
"Bob is doing quite well. We had him checked this last week, and no infection yet, which is a good sign," said Jeanie Vaughan, founder of Turtle Dreams, the rehabilitation center. "His internal organs are working all right. His anemia is improving. It is going to take a while to become fully recovered, but he is going to be OK. "
Posted by ROLL_IT_UP on July 24, 2007 at 7:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Remind you of another case in history? Jeffrey Dahmer, he started out mutilating and torturing animals also, till he moved on to people. I hope this guy gets punished to the fullest!
Posted by FedUp on July 24, 2007 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
of course he would not harm his own family pets! then he would have to answer the authority figure in his own home. kids like this always end up torturing the animals in the neighborhood. I hope he spends a lot of time behind bars for this. future serial killer...
Posted by joey805er on July 24, 2007 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Unfortunately, I know his brother and if this guy is anything like him, then all I can say is I hope they lock him up and throw away the key.
Posted by busymommy on July 24, 2007 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This guy deserves the harshest sentence possible. This is exactly how murderers start out. I am just happy that I have not heard his family come forward in his defense.
Posted by emgarber on July 24, 2007 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
how sad that an animal can be hurt in such a way - was it a gang dare or something - leave the animals alone!
Posted by adam13 on July 24, 2007 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Innocent until proven....
As an aside....sure many murderers start out by mutilating animals, but I rarely see the stats side by side, that compare HOW MANY DON'T ever mutilate animals.
I wish Bob well!! And I hope that if it is proven that this man did the deed, then yes, he ought to be held accountable for his actions.
Posted by vae4usc on July 24, 2007 at 12:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thats a bold statement from his sister.
"We were home that day, and my other brother who lives in Oxnard was with us. We were having a barbecue," Ramirez said. "We were all there. The whole time."
That whole section of the story can make or break this case.
Posted by busymommy on July 24, 2007 at 1:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the sister should go to jail for perjury
Posted by collazo_r1 on July 24, 2007 at 1:51 p.m.
(This thread was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by sog55 on July 24, 2007 at 2:48 p.m.
(This thread was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by FedUp on July 24, 2007 at 2:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I sure as heck have never mutilated a tortoise before. innocent till proven guilty only means something in the courtroom. in the public opinion, it is always guilty until proven innocent.
dont worry, no one on this board will be asked to be on his jury.
Posted by MrsG on July 24, 2007 at 3:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i agree, w/ collazo. but unfortunately in the state of california often times we are guilty untill proven innocent. and emgarber, cant this just be a unruley kid? why a gang thing? sounds like racial profile to me, because he has a shaved head? or that hes hispanic? i too hope whoever did this gets punished, but lets not jump the gun just yet
Posted by mmccarthy , Moderator, on July 24, 2007 at 4:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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Posted by fourlegsgood on July 24, 2007 at 4:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What a sick sad world we live in. Ship him away, somewhere far, far away so we don't have to see his frightening visage the next time he strikes. No mercy for abusers of anyone, especially helpless animals and children.
Posted by johnz on July 24, 2007 at 6:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
this guy better not get off. what a disgusting scum. he gets what he deserves, and unfortunately given our justice system, or lack there of it seems sometimes, he will probably get a reduced sentence, time served bs and a small fine. if only the law of "an eye for an eye" was a choice for scum like this. this guy, and people like michael vick, should have done to them what they did to the animals upon which they inflicted this cruelty.
Posted by ScumBuck on July 24, 2007 at 9:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ang em!
Posted by AnnaWhaat on July 24, 2007 at 9:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"He's not capable. I know he is not," she said. "They (witnesses) say that they've seen him and his friends do it. Why is my brother the only one in jail?"
This statement concerns me.... So if there were other witness's who saw this happen I'm leaning towards thinking he could be. And if his friends did help as stated in the sisters comment WHY are they not in jail??? Very good question.
Well no wonder I got a F in Biology for not disecting that darn frog !!!!!!!! That is just sick to me !
Posted by KathrynAsh on July 24, 2007 at 10:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What was done to Bob should be done to this animal. He should be locked up before he starts harming people. Everyone knows sociopaths start w/ animals.
Posted by FedUp on July 25, 2007 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"guilty till proven innocent if you're Hispanic I guess....."
thats crap, and you know it. why does someone always have to bring race in to it? is it because you lack any kind of real arguement? I am sorry, but when all the evidence points directly at you, I will automatically think you are guilty. just like the kid who killed the lady on the bike, and ran away. he is pleading not guilty, but I already think he is guilty. too much damning evidence.
get rid of the race arguement once and for all.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on July 25, 2007 at 3:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
lakeshow1 , I would hope that people are not thinking like that. It has nothing at all to do with race, religion or sex. I dont know if he is guilty and never once said he should be punished for this crime in anyway........... I just wish if he is not guilty that he had a better alibi besides just family members. Then it would be better for him if he isn't guilty. But I for one never put race into a comment.
Posted by Montana on July 26, 2007 at 7:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Look at his eyes- there's nothing there. We'll be hearing a lot more about this character.
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