A San Juan Bautista woman was left stunned after receiving her
mail this week when she opened a letter from the district attorney.
The letter warned the woman, Tonya Talavera, that criminal charges
had been filed against her and she is required to book herself into
custody
– because of her barking toy poodle. The notice started a
weeklong scramble for Talavera, who tried to avoid booking herself
into jail – until Monday when the case was dismissed.
A San Juan Bautista woman was left stunned after receiving her mail this week when she opened a letter from the district attorney. The letter warned the woman, Tonya Talavera, that criminal charges had been filed against her and she is required to book herself into custody – because of her barking toy poodle.
The notice started a weeklong scramble for Talavera, who tried to avoid booking herself into jail – until Monday when the case was dismissed.
The dismissal came after new evidence came to light, Deputy District Attorney Peter Leroe-Munoz said.
“We got some new information and spoke with some people, and decided to dismiss the case,” he said.
A neighbor filed his complaint five months ago with the sheriff’s office, but the San Benito County District Attorney’s Office filed its related complaint for the first time a week ago. She was issued a notice to turn herself in and go to court April 19 – much to the surprise of Talavera and the neighbor who issued the original complaint, Sal Galvan.
Galvan admitted he was surprised Talavera was required to turn herself in.
“In her mind and in my mine it was taken care of,” Galvan said.
“Nobody ever told me she would need to go to court,” he said.
Talavera has been equally confused, going from neighboring home to home to see if anyone hears her dog.
“I went around asking if they heard my dog, and they all said ‘no,'” Talavera said. “It’s just, there is one guy that lives 200 feet from me.”
For the prior story with more details, go here.
