An illegal immigrant has been sentenced to three years in prison in animal-abuse case

North County Times:

A ex-con who "obviously has a horrible temper" was sentenced to three years in state prison for savagely beating a pit bull.

Enrique George Hernandez, a 39-year-old illegal immigrant who has been deported several times, pleaded guilty March 30 to animal cruelty for punching "Ozzie" at least 10 times on Aug. 25, breaking a leg and some of his ribs.

The dog also had a burn, consistent with a cigarette burn, in the middle of his forehead, said Deputy District Attorney Cally Bright.

The 55-pound animal survived the beating but became aggressive, unadoptable and was ultimately euthanized, authorities said.

Superior Court Judge Howard Shore said yesterday, when he sentenced Hernandez, that the defendant knew what he was doing.

"He obviously has a horrible temper and took it out on the dog," the judge said.

Hernandez went to prison for auto theft after being convicted in 1989 and again in 1992 for an assault with a deadly weapon. He also went to prison for a 1995 conviction for beating his wife and was sentenced in 1998 to 77 months in federal custody for re-entering the United States illegally.

Rare Sentence in Dog Beating

They Kill Horses, Don't They? (Mexicans, That Is.)