Thursday 7th January 2010
Justice for Buddy!
From Maria Danes. Join Facebook community above for Buddy.
On December 30, 2009 between 2:18 am and 4:30 am a German Shepherd named Buddy was dragged to death at the Colorado National Monument. Joan Anzelmo, superintendent of the monument, identified the suspect as Steven Clay Romero, 37, of Grand Junction.
She said Romero is alleged to have stolen the dog — Buddy, a German shepherd-blue heeler mix — from people in Delta. He allegedly took the dog to the Colorado National Monument early Wednesday, tied the dog to his truck and dragged the dog. Paw prints in the snow were found to show Buddy at first walking, then running, then dragging, for 3 miles. A surveillance video showed a truck entering the monument at 2:18 am with a dog in the bed of the truck, it showed the same truck leaving at 2:30 with no dog. Witnesses said Romero said he was going to kill the dog, another said he saw Romero leave the residence with the dog.
Romero faces one count of aggravated cruelty towards animals. If convicted, the penalty is a maximum of three years in federal prison and a fine of $100,000, and one year of mandatory parole.
Anzelmo said she believes additional charges may be filed against Romero.
The goal of this group and petition is to see to it that Steven Romero spends every single minute of those three years in jail and a fine of $100,000 plus the one year of mandatory parole.
Should there be any sympathy towards Mr Romero, let me add one thing. According to the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel on Dec 31st, Romero was quoted as saying:
“I don’t get it,” he said, sitting alone at the defendant’s table. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Heldmyer then rose from her seat, walked toward Romero and tossed a copy of the charges on the table in front of him.
Heldmyer told U.S. Magistrate Judge Laird Milburn she will ask for Romero’s continued detention during Monday’s hearing.
