April 16, 2019 - Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini announced the guilty plea of an East Hampton man to strangling and stabbing a dog, causing its death, in December 2018.
Jose Galvez-Garcia, 22, of East Hampton, pleaded guilty today to Aggravated Cruelty to Animals, a class E felony.
“This individual, without any cause or reason, killed an innocent, defenseless animal,” District Attorney Sini said. “This kind of cruelty is inexcusable and will not be tolerated by my office.”
Between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. on Dec. 2, 2018, Galvez-Garcia strangled a four-year-old cockapoo named Simba who belonged to one of his family members. Galvez-Garcia then proceeded to repeatedly stab the dog with an approximately six inch long kitchen knife in its head, neck and torso, causing its death.
Galvez-Garcia was arrested by the East Hampton Town Police Department on Dec. 3, 2018.
Galvez-Garcia faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Suffolk County Court Judge Mark Cohen on May 14.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jacob Kubetz, of the Enhanced Prosecution Bureau.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.