Defendant Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Cruelty to an Animal;
“Sally” Recovered from the Ordeal and Found a New Home
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has pleaded
guilty and will be sentenced to a year in jail for abusing a puppy, including slamming her to the
floor resulting in rendering one of her legs useless and causing it to be amputated.
District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant’s abuse of an eight-month old dog
culminated in a leg injury leading to amputation of the limb. Such inhumane actions warrant a
jail sentence. We will not tolerate cruelty to defenseless animals.”
Howard Lawrence, Vice President, ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement, said, “The
ASPCA continues to be thankful for partners like the NYPD and Bronx District Attorney’s
Office in the fight against animal cruelty in New York City. Sassy – now named Sally – was
rescued from a life of cruelty and pain, provided desperately needed medical care at the ASPCA
Animal Hospital, and now has a new home thanks to this collaboration. We’re grateful to the
NYPD and Bronx District Attorney for bringing Sally’s abuser to justice.”
District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Roberto Martinez, 25, of 946 Leggett Avenue,
pleaded guilty today before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Robert Neary to Aggravated Cruelty
to an Animal, a felony. As part of the plea agreement, Martinez will be sentenced on November
15, 2017 to one year in jail, must register as an animal abuser in the state registry and is not
permitted to own an animal for five years. He was remanded pending sentencing.
According to the investigation, on or about September 10, 2016, the defendant was
observed via video surveillance lifting an approximately eight-month old, mixed breed dog
then-named “Sassy” by her harness to defendant’s shoulder height. Defendant then slammed
Sassy to the floor, causing Sassy to land on the backside of her body. Sassy attempted to run
away from the defendant, however, her right-hind leg was unresponsive. Defendant then lifted Sassy by the neck area of her body and pushed her upwards on the staircase before entering an
apartment. The defendant’s girlfriend, who owned the dog, brought her to the ASPCA, telling
veterinarians the dog had fallen down stairs. Evidence of prior abuse including broken ribs was
detected. The NYPD was notified and retrieved the video of the assault.
The dog’s right hind limb was amputated on September 16, 2016.
District Attorney Clark thanked the ASPCA, specifically Dr. Alison Liu, Forensic
Veterinarian, and Dr. Robert Reisman, Supervisor, Forensic Sciences; as well as NYPD
Detective John Glynn of the Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad for his work on the case.
