PRIMERA — A 20-year-old Primera man has been arrested on two counts of cruelty to an animal after he was accused of repeatedly punching one dog and swinging another dog by its leash and throwing it over a table.
The Primera Police Department said they received two surveillance videos showing Jonathan Sanchez abusing the dogs.
Sanchez was arrested and arraigned on March 19 – after he turned himself over to Primera police -and charged with two counts of cruelty to non-livestock animals, a third degree felony.
His bonds totaled $60,000 and he was transported to a Cameron County jail. It is unknown if he remains incarcerated.
With the assistance of the Cameron County District Attorney’s Office, investigators obtained a seizure warrant and were able to remove the dogs from the Sanchez residence.
Authorities said the dogs will be evaluated by a local veterinarian and will be held at the Primera animal shelter until a hearing is held to determine if the dogs are returned to Sanchez or his family.
