Chihuahua killer facing life sentence

May 21, 2011

Bud Wally Ruiz

A Gilroy man is facing life in prison for allegedly killing his wife’s 6-week-old Chihuahua if he is convicted under California’s “three strikes” law. [MercuryNews]

Police arrested Bud Wally Ruiz, 53, and formally charged him on Wednesday with two felony counts of cruelty to animals and one misdemeanor count of battery on a spouse.

Ruiz allegedly threw the bag he had placed the puppy in across the room during a fight with his wife in which she asked him to leave the dog with her. The bag hit a wall and Teddy was killed.

Because Ruiz already has four convictions for assault with a deadly weapon, prosecutors could try Ruiz under California’s “three strikes” law. The law imposes a mandatory sentence of 25 years to life on repeat offenders charged with violent crimes.


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It must be lots fun job for LE, DA, and Judge to throw the book at someone, sort of like playing crossword puzzle, with the black and white letter of the law, but there is the writing of the law and there is the intent of the law, and when the intent don’t fit, you got to have of money to take it up to a higher court to develop more specific guidelines.