A Gilroy man who was arrested Monday on suspicion of killing a
6-week-old puppy during an argument with his wife has been charged
with felony animal cruelty and misdemeanor battery, according to
the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.
A Gilroy man who was arrested Monday on suspicion of killing a 6-week-old puppy during an argument with his wife has been charged with felony animal cruelty and misdemeanor battery, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.
Bud Wally Ruiz, 53, turned himself in to police four days after a late-night dispute in the 8800 block of Morey Way where he assaulted his wife and threw her puppy against the wall, killing it, according to the Gilroy Police Department.
He was arraigned Wednesday as is scheduled to enter a plea at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the South County courthouse in Morgan Hill, said Amy Cornell, media coordinator for the district attorney’s office.
Cornell said it was a three-strikes case, and Ruiz could face 25 years to life in prison if convicted. Ruiz has four prior convictions for assault with a deadly weapon – two in Santa Clara County and two in Fresno County, she said.
Ruiz spent seven months in jail for his convictions in Santa Clara County, which occurred in 1978. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 1999 after pleading no contest, Cornell said.
Officers responded to a report of a domestic violence incident around 10 p.m. Thursday night. It was during an investigation that police learned Ruiz committed the assault and killed the puppy before fleeing, GPD Sgt. Amanda Stanford said.
