A man who allegedly was caught on video beating his American micro bully with a metal chain leash at a downtown Los Angeles apartment building has been charged with a felony count of animal cruelty, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Monday.
Donald Jeffes, 40, pleaded not guilty Friday and was ordered to be released on electronic monitoring under the conditions that he cannot have any animals under his care or control and must stay away from the person who reported the alleged abuse, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Jeffes was allegedly captured March 18 on videos abusing his dog, Rusty, including carrying him by his collar and repeatedly whipping him with a metal chain leash, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
“The alleged abuse captured on videos in this case is not just deplorable — it’s criminal,” District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement announcing the case.
“In Los Angeles County, we treat animal cruelty as a serious offense that will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Our message is simple: If you abuse animals, you will face real consequences.”
Jeffes could face up to three years in state prison if convicted as charged, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Officers initially met March 19 with the reporting party, who showed them a video of Jeffe walking in a hallway and allegedly striking the dog with a metal leash, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Detectives conducted a follow-up investigation March 24 and obtained additional video evidence showing Jeffe allegedly striking the dog on multiple occasions, police said. The dog received treatment from a veterinarian on the same day and was subsequently released back into the custody of the suspect.
Jeffes was arrested on Thursday by detectives on suspicion of animal cruelty after they served a search warrant near the 600 block of South Spring Street, according to police.
The dog’s current status was not immediately available.
Jeffes was released from a Los Angeles County jail Monday afternoon, according to jail records.
He is due back in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom May 1 for a hearing to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to allow the case against him to proceed to trial.