Spokane7
43°
December 16, 2009 in City
Man sentenced for beating dog outside City Hall
A man who beat a dog outside City Hall this summer will be released next week after spending about four months in Spokane County Jail.
Michael J. Jones, 21, pleaded guilty to first-degree animal cruelty Wednesday in Spokane County Superior Court and received credit for time served while waiting for the case to get to court.
The felony conviction came nearly six months after surveillance video showed Jones slam a Shih Tzu against Spokane City Hall after smashing out a car window and pulling the dog from the vehicle by its leash.
“I’m sorry that my emotions got out of control,” Jones said in court, turning to look at the dog’s owner, Tom Tuffin. “I apologize for my behavior.”
The June 22 attack on the dog, named Cocoa Butter, sparked widespread outrage and drew a $5,000 reward offer from a national animal rights group for Jones’ arrest.
But when Jones tried to turn himself in to police in late August, he was turned away because no formal charges had been filed against him despite various groups offering rewards for his capture. Jones was jailed about a week later, after prosecutors received charging recommendations from police and filed the paperwork in court.
The attack on Cocoa Butter, who has recovered, came as Jones and his girlfriend were arguing as they walked past the car in which the barking dog was confined, defense lawyer Chris Bugbee told Judge Harold Clarke.
“He took his anger out on the dog, unfortunately,” Bugbee said. “It’s a simple explanation. It doesn’t excuse anything, but it shows you, your honor, what he needs to work on.”
Jones was ordered to pay the dog’s owners about $1,400 for veterinarian bills and to replace the smashed window.
State law doesn’t allow for Jones to be on probation for the animal cruelty conviction, but his uncle and grandmother attended his sentencing and will be helping him when he’s released, Bugbee said. Bugbee said the public reaction to the case was unlike that sparked by the most heinous crimes against humans. Clarke agreed.
“Perhaps that’s because we view animals as, and they are, as largely defenseless,” Clarke said. “I think we all feel this way, and appropriately so.”
The maximum penalty for first-degree animal cruelty in Washington is five years in prison, but that depends on criminal history.
The sentence recommended by Bugbee and Deputy Prosecutor Rachel Sterrett and approved by Clarke was the shortest available for Jones, who does not have a major criminal record but faced up to a year in jail. Jones is serving a 40-day sentence for a trespassing conviction out of Municipal Court that is nearly complete. Bugbee expects him to be released next week.
Homicide suspect arrested 
SugarShane on December 16 at 12:42 p.m.
He should have been sentenced to anger management and counciling. Jail does little to rehabilitate someone and teaches mostly not to get caught next time.
deacon46 on December 16 at 12:48 p.m.
Much Too lenient. he needs to be ordered to a “shrink” and or relocked up.
dcplace2007 on December 16 at 1:45 p.m.
I think that he should be sentenced to a great deal of community service after his release dealing with this terrible crime against an annoying, yapping little dog. I think he should have to work in animal shelters for much time to come…it is true that animals are defenseless, but “humans” includes children, and children are defenseless also, and abuse happens to millions by the second as I type this post. There is a group here in town that (used to bring food) and hay filled igloos to help the poor little feral (wild street) cats to the property where I reside. How about they spend more time devoting their time to “humans” than wild street cats?…so, again, as we all pray for the little wild cats of Spokane to survive the winter here, how bout let’s help some needy children? Hmmm? I just gave some money to the boys and girls club to help them out…I am definitely not spending my hard earned money to buy food for feral animals. But, I must say, I don’t think any person should abuse any animal. Saying this, that means don’t put poison out for the rats and insects, because they are animals also according to PETA…dog, cat, rat, insect, deer, etc…all animals.
lewis8457 on December 16 at 2:58 p.m.
sadly not to many people in our society see any uses for animals other then to eat them or abuse them. the people that feed and fix feral cats are doing a service no one else will do out of the kindness of their hearts. the animals around us need all the advocates they can get. Some people including this young man view them as objects that can be used any way they see fit. Even slamming against walls.
i agree this young man should get to clean dog cages at the area shelter for 30000 + hours.
Maynard on December 16 at 3:45 p.m.
Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their
shoes. That way, you’ll be a mile from them, and
you’ll have their shoes.
MrNatural on December 16 at 3:48 p.m.
Another example of the sick side of human nature…and what this boy needs is counseling along with community service. Thoughtless aggression is a release of angst that requires a lengthy intervention to change thought patterns and attitudes…this boy is not alone in his need for help…many of Spokane’s youths need help…
PlanB on December 16 at 4:01 p.m.
Four months jail time for this is cruel and unusual punishment. Community service and some counseling would be the appropriate punishment.
Maynard on December 16 at 4:11 p.m.
Show me one case study where counseling or anger management cures someone like this, His insane behavior will escalate as it always does in these kind of people. There is something so profoundly wrong with his brain that a little chat with a shrink is not gonna fix it. Lock him up and melt the key. He is a lost cause, holy crap, look at him.
deacon46 on December 16 at 4:57 p.m.
Since when is a 20 year old a boy. This guy is trouble and help has to be both punishment and mental health. Community Service teaches nothing and cures no one. Besides I am personally tired of societies experiments to rehabilate without punishment. Hasn’t worked and never will.
Diana on December 16 at 4:59 p.m.
No, what this idiot did to the dog was cruel and unusual. After his four months in jail, hopefully he’ll think twice before taking out his anger on another of God’s creatures, humans included.
Wimp.
Roger_Young on December 16 at 7:37 p.m.
I’m glad that all you Judge wannabees know what the sentencing guidelines are for this crime/conviction.
How about becoming informed prior to contributing to global warming due to your hot air?
I still would like to know “why he did it” in his own words.
You all also forget he tried to turn himself in with his attorney, however our Keystone coppers didnt have a warrant for the crime and at that time did not incarcerate him.
Diana likes to call people names. Something children do.
Maynard on December 16 at 9:30 p.m.
So, Roger, in wanting to know “why he did it” in his own words are you imlpying that there may be a good reason to assault an innocent little puppy? What did you tell your parents when you were lighting cats’ tails on fire? I’m sure you had a good reason…”in your own words”.
zelda on December 16 at 9:56 p.m.
Judge Clark’s sentence reflects the community’s outrage. Chances are defenseless animals aren’t the only objects of Michael Jones’s violence and this behavior had to be squelched before it escalated into something much worse.
brutehead on December 16 at 10:08 p.m.
Someone should treat him the same way he treated the dog!!Maybe then he’ll know what it feels like!!
lynchtnbstrds on December 17 at 9:10 a.m.
It is disgraceful, and inhumane, to beat any animal. It is also disgraceful, and inhumane, to overly punish someone for what may have been an immature reaction. What is the matter with people who cant get enough of punishing others?
Maynard on December 17 at 10:12 a.m.
Immature reaction, Give me a brake, He did not simply kick a passing doggie, He broke out a cars window and dragged a puppy by it’s leash over to a wall and smashed the dog into it. Many researchers have found that a history of animal violence indicates a high propensity for interpersonal violence. Simply, those who abuse animals usually move on to human victims. Although not all animal abusers become serial killer, most serial killers began their killing spree with animals. So, lets not be to harsh to him now, we’ll just wait until he cuts your family to pieces and bar-b-ques them, then serves them up with a nice cat pate.
deacon46 on December 17 at 10:57 a.m.
Who cares why he did the crime I want to know he does the time. Punishment is paying society for being outside the limits of normal behavior and for breaking the law. I don’t care why he did the crime, or how old he is, or how mentally fit he is, or his enthic backround, or if he hada bad childhood, I just want to know he does the time and receives the punishment. We as a society have for too long tolerated the do gooders and their forgiving experiments. Too many Mike Hucklebees in power. You will find most of these folks once they are a victim of a crime soon become advocates for punishment. The defenceless, whether human or animal, need our extra attention and we need to extract the prescribed punishment.
terrymr on December 17 at 11:25 a.m.
What he did was definitely wrong. But then if the dog hadn’t been left in a car in the summer it wouldn’t have happened.
Maynard on December 17 at 12:14 p.m.
Are you kidding me? So applying your logic, there would be no bank robberies if we just get rid of those pesky banks, Hell, if we get rid of all the children there would be no more molestations. Maybe your on to something Terry……NOT
dcplace2007 on December 17 at 1:14 p.m.
When that agency in town was bringing the igloos with hay and the food for the feral cats, there were 40 cats around here. Everyday, I had to clean up their waste in the driveway, sidewalk, yard-as they have no kitty litter boxes for these wild cats…so, I was wondering if someone in Spokane could donate their time to come out everyday and pick up their feces? Put your money where your mouth is, people. I am against animal abuse/cruelty 100 percent…But again, people tend to look past the truth, and onto their “own” version. Again, any takers and volunteering their time to clean up their poop? The agency that came out fed them, gave them a warm place to sleepy pie, but DID NOT DO THE THING THEY NEEDED TO DO AND THAT IS CLEAN UP THEIR FECES! Actually, at this point, there are only 3 wild, feral cats to clean up after :)
commentary1 on December 18 at 8:35 p.m.
what I really think should happen to him I cannot post publicly
zombiemaven on December 22 at 2:59 p.m.
dcplace2007 - What in the h*ll are you babbling about?
What does feral cat feces have to do with some young punk beating a puppy? Are you kidding? And to all of you who think he should not have been punished, I can’t even think of what to say to such ignorance. It’s baffling. I’d like to hear what roger_young thinks would justify beating a little dog. Sounds like someone who beats his dog if his wife p*sses him off.