Clark County DA: ‘Punishment does not fit the crime’ for Reba the Bulldog suspects
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) - The Clark County District Attorney held a press conference Tuesday to address how the suspects in Reba the Bulldog’s case are being charged.
“The punishment does not fit the crime,” DA Steve Wolfson told reporters during a press conference Tuesday morning.
Reba the Bulldog made national headlines after she was discovered, abandoned, and left to die in a plastic storage bin in a Las Vegas dumpster in the July heat. Her death sparked a local movement and ignited an extensive investigation that led to two arrests over the weekend.
30-year-old Markeisha Foster and 32-year-old Isaac Laushaul, Jr. face animal abuse charges. They are being held in jail without bail.
Wolfson shared that he’d received hundreds of messages from people around the world, suggesting he bring the full extent of the law down on the suspects.
“[They are] urging justice on behalf of Reba and wanting some pretty severe penalties, to be perfectly frank,” he said.
Wolfson highlighted the fact that Nevada law currently allows charges carrying only one to four years of potential jail time for cases like this. He also urged Nevadans to demand harsher penalties for animal cruelty from lawmakers.
“What I’d like to see is an increase. Our lawmakers should consider everything. Any increase is sufficient. A slight increase isn’t enough. Perhaps in the range of 1-10 years in prison,” Wolfson suggested. “The penalty should be greater. I’m urging anybody who is listening to that is a Nevada resident, and, in particular, a Clark County resident, to reach out to your lawmaker. Reach out to the person that represents you in Carson City and urge them to consider a bill to increase the penalty for animal cruelty.”
He added, “If this was your dog, would you think that a year in jail would be enough?”
FOX5 Investigates dug into what animal abuse penalties look like in states around Nevada. In California, someone convicted of animal abuse could go to prison for three years and face up to a $20,000 fine. In Arizona, they could spend two and a half years in prison, more if they have prior felonies. An animal abuse conviction could land someone in prison for five years in Utah, plus a fine of up to $5,000. In Hawaii, someone could also spend up to five years behind bars and pay a $10,000 fine.
32-year-old Isaac Laushaul, Jr. is expected back in court for a bail hearing later this week, with future hearings for him and 30-year-old Markeisha Foster scheduled for January.
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