Judge Timothy Casserly, Superior Court of California, County
of San Diego
Deputy District Attorney, K. Flaherty
Defendant Attorney, R.J. Dicks
The People of the State of California VS. Michael D. Garritson
In a plea bargain today, Michael D. Garritson pled guilty to
one felony count. California Penal Code 597(b).
Counts 2-11 were dismissed. He was given probation. He may only have two
animals on his property. He must resign from the AKC for life. He will
allow the Dept. of Animal Control access to view his property at any time
without cause or notice. He will not engage in breeding, directly
or indirectly. He will not have any puppies born on his property. He will
pay restitution to the Dept. of Animal Control. He was ordered to report
immediately to the probation dept.
Judge Casserly said if he breaks the terms
of probation, Judge Casserly will follow the letter of the law and give him
considerable custody.
Sentencing Hearing is scheduled for
February 24, 2003 at 1:30pm. At that time the amount of restitution will be
decided.
California Penal
Code 597(b): Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (a)
or (c), every person who overdrives, overloads, drives when overloaded,
overworks, tortures, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance, drink, or
shelter, cruelly beats, mutilates, or cruelly kills any animal, or causes
or procures any animal to be so overdriven, overloaded, driven when
overloaded, overworked, tortured, tormented, deprived of necessary
sustenance, drink, shelter, or to be cruelly beaten, mutilated, or cruelly
killed; and whoever, having the charge or custody of any animal, either as
owner or otherwise, subjects any animal to needless suffering, or inflicts
unnecessary cruelty upon the animal, or in any manner abuses any animal,
or fails to provide the animal with proper food, drink, or shelter or
protection from the weather, or who drives, rides, or otherwise uses the
animal when unfit for labor, is, for every such offense, guilty of a crime
punishable as a misdemeanor or as a felony or alternatively punishable as
a misdemeanor or a felony and by a fine of not more than twenty thousand
dollars ($20,000).