Reader comments
Plea offer in dog torture case withdrawn

Anonymous | 12:18 p.m. May 21, 2009

GOOD. there should be no plea deal for this guy. he deserves to be prosecuted to the FULLEST extent of the law.

cady | 12:26 p.m. May 21, 2009

what happened to animal rights?

No Deals!! | 12:38 p.m. May 21, 2009

There are WAY too many plea deals struck in this state. What this guy did to a puppy--a baby--is sadistic and barbaric, and a human will be the next to feel his temper. He should do some serious jail time and I mean the maximum possible under the law. No deals!

Comments continue below

csc | 1:37 p.m. May 21, 2009

I have a question for Ben Winslow about his article in the Deseret News today...are he friends with Anthony Spidel or with Anthony Spidle's attorney?
What's with his description saying Spidle was accused of merely "tossing the animal up against a wall"???
The puppy was thrown against the wall. Why would he choose the word "tossed" in his story to lessen the sound and effect of what Spidel did to an innocent puppy?
The cries and screams were recorded by Spidle himself with the torture he was inflicting on the animal who almost died from the abuse!
It was very clear in his article that he made a point to down play the abuse.

Why Even Consider A Plea | 4:00 p.m. May 21, 2009

This bottom dweller of society should pay for the torture he did- why would anyone consider a plea deal. Please prosecute to fullest- for once someone needs to speak up for the animals that can't defend themselves. He needs to go to jail or prison!

doug | 7:17 p.m. May 21, 2009

If you don't like plea deals, move to Alaska. They had (and still do I think) a policy of no plea deals. Trials are long, expensive, and complicated. No plea dealing would make it likely less crimes will be pursued at all by prosecutors, police, etc.

re: Doug | 7:22 a.m. May 22, 2009

I haven't checked with the Dept. of Justice stats for a couple of years but last time I did check about 90% of all cases filed were plea bargained down to lesser charges. Yes, that saves the state money and it also makes a great conviction rate for prosecutors. However, it allows scumbags that should be in prison to roam the streets early and avoid paying their debt to society for the actual crimes they have committed. Not only do the original victims not get their due but the rest of us become victims. All because judges, prosecutors, and police are too lazy to do the job we hired them to do. If the courts and prisons are too crowded maybe we should re-think some of the laws we currently have on the books

Ralph | 10:50 a.m. May 22, 2009

This low life deserves the longest sentence that a judge can give. Put a sign on his cell, "I Beat Puppies". It won't be long before he finds out how the puppy felt.

To The Pet Owner | 11:42 a.m. May 22, 2009

I hope you go after this low life in civil court, not only can your press criminal charges you can SUE him! File a claim in small claims court for damages (you don't need an attorney) just the small filing fee, even if he doesn't have money to pay when he loses- you can't hurt him with a judgement. All victims should do both- go after the perp both criminally and civilly.
I hope the prosecutor doesn't agree to a plea deal in the end, people are outraged, the dog suffered, the man should go to jail!

LE | 10:15 a.m. May 23, 2009

I agree. We should hold this individual accountable under the law that this state's voters approved last year. That is, actually enforce Henry's Law...not threaten it and then plea it down to some watered down version. Please write Judge Barrett on this case. I did.

The Honorable Judge William Barrett
Third Distrct Court, Room W39
450 S. State Street
Salt Lake City, Ut. 84111

You can FAX a letter to him at:
801-238-7199

You CAN make a difference.

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