A Gilroy man who could face life in prison after being accused
of killing his wife’s 6-week-old puppy is also a registered sex
offender, according to online database Megan’s Law.
A Gilroy man who could face life in prison after being accused of killing his wife’s 6-week-old puppy is also a registered sex offender, according to online database Megan’s Law.
Bud Wally Ruiz, 53, turned himself in to police Monday four days after a late-night dispute with his wife that ended, Gilroy police alleged, with Ruiz throwing her Chihuahua puppy against the wall, killing it.
According to the Megan’s Law website, Ruiz, who is listed as a transient, once committed “lewd or lascivious acts with child 14 or 15 years of age.”
Ruiz was arraigned Wednesday on two felony counts of animal cruelty and one count of misdemeanor battery and 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.
