Photo: California Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Horrific Sexual Abuse of Chihuahua
A California man will spend as many as 10 years in prison for the horrific sexual abuse he put a young Chihuahua puppy through.
While the owners of the home he was renting a room in where out, Robert Edward DeShields sexual assaulted their Chihuahua, Shadow.
The owners returned to find DeShields, 55, in the act, and their 8-month-old dog “in pain and shock.” They immediately took Shadow to a veterinarian determined there was severe damage to the dog’s internal organs.
Though surgery was successful in beginning the repair to the dog physically, the psychological effect of such a terrible encounter has damaged the dog, who is now said to be extraordinarily fearful of men, much like human victims of sexual abuse are when the attacker is male.
The homeowners had given DeShields, a parolee and chronic methamphetamine user, a temporary place to live.
Friday, after being convicted of animal cruelty, DeShields was sentenced to 10 years in prison and forced to register as a sex offender, making it the first time Jessica’s Law has been used in a case of animal sexual abuse.
Shadow now lives in a foster home with county shelter employee Laura Badeker, who testified on the psychological effects the abuse has had on the dog.
Judge Thadd Blizzard stated that DeShields was given the maximum of 10 years and was to register as a sex offender due to the fact that the crime was “inherently sexual in nature,” adding that he is “a serious threat to society.”
