2 juveniles sentenced in Dallas County animal cruelty cases
A 16-year-old male who killed a Mesquite Police Department K9 officer has been sentenced to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department until his 19th birthday.
The teen is one of two juveniles who were sentenced this month in connection with animal cruelty cases in Dallas County. Both sentences exceeded the probation department’s recommendations, announced Dallas County Criminal District Attorney John Creuzot.
On April 26, Mesquite canine officer Kozmo was killed while he and human officers were trying to arrest robbery suspects. The suspects got out of their vehicle near Interstate 635 and Lake June Road. The teenager, who is not being named because he is a juvenile, ran into the woods. Kozmo found the teen and was killed “during a violent struggle,” according to prosecutors.
During a confession, the teenager said he killed Kozmo to avoid being found by police. Prosecutor Stephanie Harmon argued that the juvenile needed more than probation in a drug treatment facility. She said that the juvenile system’s previous attempts to rehabilitate the teenager had not worked.
The judge sentenced the teenager to serve time in the Texas Juvenile Justice Department rather than receive probation. The teen could be eligible for parole before he turns 19.
In the second juvenile case, a 16-year-old male was seen abusing his family’s dog in May. A witness to the abuse took video of the incident, and the teenager was arrested and charged with a third-degree felony animal cruelty charge.
Prosecutor Rex Anderson argued that the vicious and prolonged violence against the dog, Princess, showed that the teenager, who had since turned 17, needed more than probation inside his family’s house.
The judge ordered the teenager remain on probation until his 18th birthday — the longest period available under juvenile law. The teen will serve the first portion in a placement outside his family’s house.
The court also ordered that the teen is not allowed to have a pet.
Princess has been placed in another home by the SPCA.
