Anthony Spidle Sentenced... Will Serve 5 Years in Prison for Torturing Puppy
Anthony Spidle Sentenced... Will Serve 5 Years in Prison for Torturing Puppy
Judge William Barrett has sentenced Anthony Spidle in Third District Court to the maximum penalty allowed by Utah’s new law which makes animal abuse & torture a third degree felony in our state.
The 22 year old West Valley Man plead guilty in November to viciously beating his former girlfriend’s dog “Gabriella” on March 21, 2009. To make matters worse, Spidle recorded the attack on the woman’s voice mail.
Gabriella survived massive injuries to her brain, eyes, bones and internal organs and is now living with a nurturing family in Park City.
“He deserves this sentence,” says Humane Society of Utah Executive Director Gene Baierschmidt. “It was a cruel and callous act. We hope this sends a message to anyone who thinks about committing cruelty to an animal in the state of Utah, letting them know there will be a serious price to pay.”
Judge Barrett gave Spidle credit for 11 months already served in the county jail but disregarded requests from attorneys that Spidle be released to attend a drug rehabilitation program.
“It hurts my heart to do it, but I think he (Spidle) needs to go to prison,” said Barrett as he handed down today’s sentence. Spidle will also serve a concurrent 5 year sentence for witness tampering in this case.
SPIDLE TO BE SENTENCED FOR TORTURING GIRLFRIENDS’ DOG
Anthony Spidle will be sentenced Friday morning, March 5th at nine o’clock by Judge William Barrett in Third District Court. Spidle is the first adult in Utah to be convicted on a third degree felony charge of animal torture. Spidle plead guilty in November to beating, kicking and stomping his girlfriends’ dog “Gabriella” all the while recording the animals’ cries on her answering machine. Gabriella suffered massive injuries to her brain, eyes, bones and internal organs.
The Humane Society of Utah is asking Judge Barrett to impose the maximum sentence and fine for this crime, that he not be allowed to own animals or interact with them in the future, and that Mr. Spidle receive psychological counseling as well.
Sentencing will take place at 9 a.m. Friday, in Judge Barretts’ chambers in Room W39 of Third District Court on 450 South State Street in Salt Lake City, Utah. HSU Executive Director Gene Baierschmidt will be available for comment after sentencing.
CALL TO ACTION - HSU SEEKS YOUR HELP! UPDATE
still in the process of determining the appropriate course
Anthony Spidle, who plead guilty to charges of animal cruelty in November, has received a continuation from Judge William Barrett. His sentencing has now been continued to March 5, 2010 in Third District Court. According to one of Mr. Spidle's attorneys, Clayton A. Simms, the court is still in the process of determining the appropriate course of anger management treatment for Mr. Spidle.
CALL TO ACTION - HSU SEEKS YOUR HELP!
Sentencing Approaches For Man Who Beat A Helpless Dog - Please Write The Judge Asking for Strong Penalty!
Anthony Spidle, the individual who beat, kicked and stomped his girlfriend’s dog “Gabriella,” while recording the animals’ cries on her answering machine, is the first adult in Utah to be convicted on a third degree felony charge for animal torture. Spidle was found guilty of the crime in November, and is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday, January 29, 2010. We need YOU to help convince the judge Mr. Spidle should receive appropriate punishment for the crimes committed against Gabriella.
The Honorable William Barrett will determine the sentence for Mr. Spidle. In 2007 Judge Barrett also sentenced Marc Vincent to jail in the case of “Henry,” the dog who was beaten and then placed in a heated oven. That case made all Utahns aware of the types of heinous crimes committed against animals and why the perpetrators need to be held accountable for their actions.
It was YOUR LETTERS to Judge Barrett which made a difference in Henrys’ case. Now, we are asking you to do the same for Gabriella. Please write a brief, polite, hard-copy (“snail mail”) letter, asking that Mr. Spidle receive the maximum sentence and fine, as well as psychological counseling, and that he not be allowed to own animals or interact with them in the future. Your letter should be addressed as follows:
The Honorable Judge William Barrett
Third District Court, Room W39
450 South State Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
Please write your letter NOW, and ask your friends and relatives to do the same. Remember, Judge Barrett has to receive your letters via the postal service prior to Friday, January 29. The HSU hopes the judge receives a thick stack of letters indicating Utahns will no longer tolerate the torture of dogs and cats in our state.
Gabriella suffered massive injuries to her brain, eyes, bones and internal organs. YOU can speak out to see justice is done on her behalf. Please write this letter for Gabriella TODAY!
