Chihuahua killer facing life sentence
May 21, 2011
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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