OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. (TCN) — An 80-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 days in jail followed by two years of probation in connection with the death of his injured dog, whom he discarded in a dumpster while still alive.
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by the Osceola News-Gazette, a store employee heard whimpering coming from a dumpster on March 7. Inside, he found a malnourished Jack Russell terrier mix, later identified as Max, on a piece of cardboard with visible head trauma. The dog was examined by a veterinarian and was found to have a skull fracture, brain swelling, and a hematoma. Due to his injuries, the dog was euthanized.
According to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, an autopsy was conducted, and it determined Max had suffered blunt force trauma. “OCSO Sgt. Stephanie King went above and beyond to complete a thorough investigation into Max’s death,” the press release reads.
The News-Gazette reports that surveillance footage of the dumpster from the shopping center helped law enforcement identify the suspect’s car via the license plate. In the footage, the suspect was seen picking up Max by his hind legs, putting him in a box, and placing the box in the dumpster. The sheriff’s office identified the suspect as Victor Manuel Carrion-Flores.
During his interview with authorities, Carrion-Flores claimed he had owned Max for 10 years and said he had found Max injured the night before he left him in the dumpster. He claimed he was too busy with work to take him to the vet, and “did not want to deal with it.” He acknowledged that the dog was alive when put in the dumpster.
According to the sheriff’s office, Carrion-Flores pleaded guilty on Sept. 30 to aggravated animal cruelty with excessive pain or death — a third-degree felony — and misdemeanor abandoning an animal to die.
He was sentenced to 20 days in jail followed by two years of probation. He will not be allowed to own any animals, must register with the state on an animal cruelty registry, pay restitution to county animal services, and take an animal cruelty prevention class.
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