A man and a woman pleaded no contest today to a misdemeanor charge of not caring for their elderly Labrador, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.
Deputy District Attorney Terrie Tengelsen said Jason David Azpeitia and Sharon Anne Azpeitia, both 43, entered the plea to one misdemeanor count of cruelty to an animal.
Both were immediately sentenced to five years of summary probation and ordered to complete 45 days of community labor, 16 sessions of animal neglect counseling and an online animal care education program. They also are prohibited from acquiring any new animals for five years.
On Jan. 9, 2018, the defendants’ neighbor found their dog on his driveway in the rain, the prosecutor said. The dog showed signs of severe lack of care, the prosecutor added.
The Azpeitias are members of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Case KA119039 was investigated by the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control.