A Sacramento judge today sentenced a man convicted of animal abuse to 10 years in state prison and ordered him to register as a sex offender over strong objections from his defense lawyer.
It may represent the first time that "Jessica's Law" has been applied in a case involving sexual abuse of an animal, a county prosecutor said. The man's defense lawyer indicated she will appeal.
A Superior Court jury convicted Robert DeShields, a parolee and chronic methamphetamine user, of felony animal cruelty in the sexual abuse of a Chihuhahua mix named Shadow.
Sacramento Deputy District Attorney Hilary Bagley Franzoia argued in court Friday that DeShields be treated as a sexual offender for the rest of his life because he is a danger to society.
The defendant's lawyer, Jennifer Stoneburner, argued that her client was convicted of animal abuse, not a sexual crime.
But Judge Thadd Blizzard concluded that the crime that DeShields committed was "inherently sexual in nature" and ordered him to register as a sex offender.
As such, DeShields will be prohibited from living near schools and places where children gather and must wear a tracking device on his ankle for the rest of his life.
Blizzard also imposed the maximum sentence of 10 years, saying that the defendant's conduct represents "a serious threat to society."
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