Alleged Springs Dog Killer To Plead Guilty

The 21-year-old Springs man being held in county jail after allegedly torturing and killing a relative’s cockapoo in December is likely to enter a guilty plea February 25, according to his attorney, Stephen Grossman.

Jose Galvez Garcia was arrested December 3, a day after taking the small dog from his aunt’s yard to a desolate beach area in Springs, where he snapped the dog’s neck and mutilated it, according to the police. He told police in his statement that he had been drinking heavily that day, and resented the way his aunt treated him.

The dog’s body was found by family members who were suspicious of Galvez-Garcia after the dog’s disappearance. Galvez-Garcia was charged with felony aggravated cruelty to an animal. After initially being arraigned in East Hampton Town Justice Court, the case was moved to the county courtroom of Justice Mark Cohen December 7.

Before Justice Cohen would accept a guilty plea from Grossman on behalf of his client, he wanted to ensure that Galvez-Garcia had received legal advice on the consequences of taking such a plea, given his immigration status. Galvez-Garcia has a green card, Grossman said. Immigration is “up in the air,” Grossman said January 29, after Galvez-Garcia’s most recent court date. He also said that, as of now, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have not acted against his client.

Grossman said that Justice Cohen would not make any promises in terms of sentencing. “This kid has problems,” Grossman said, adding that he hopes that psychiatric treatment can be part of any sentence meted out by the judge.

t.e@indyeastend.com