Man Sentenced for Physically Abusing Dog in South Pasadena

[Editor’s note: This story originally reported Christian Najera was sentenced to 120 days in jail and three years of formal probation. In fact, Najera was sentenced to summary probation, not formal probation. That correction has been made below.]

 

A 48-year-old man was convicted yesterday of kicking and violently swinging a dog at a South Pasadena police station, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

At Tuesday’s court appearance, Christian Andrew Najera pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor count of cruelty to an animal in case 6AM00391.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Rupa Goswami immediately sentenced Najera to 120 days in jail and three years of summary probation. The judge also ordered the defendant to go to 24 animal cruelty classes and attend a six-month residential treatment program through Assessment Intervention Resources.

Furthermore, Najera cannot own, possess, maintain, reside with or care for an animal for five years. Deputy District Attorney Vanessa Alfaro, who prosecuted the case, said on the morning of Feb. 6 personnel at the South Pasadena Police Station heard and saw Najera kicking and violently puling a dog by its leash in the station lobby.

Police were called for help but when they arrived in the lobby, Najera had left the building with the dog, the prosecutor said. Authorities later located Najera with the dog and the defendant was arrested.

The dog, identified as Daisy, a 2-year-old Chihuahua, was put in the care of the Pasadena Humane Society.

The case was investigated by the South Pasadena Police Department.