Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin today announced that Superior Court Justice Netti C. Vogel sentenced Luis Laboy, age 44, of 134 Willow Street, Providence, to the maximum sentence allowed by statute for the killing of his ex-girlfriend's three month old Chihuahua puppy. Justice Vogel sentenced Laboy to two years to serve for the malicious killing of a dog. In addition, Laboy was ordered to perform 100 hours community service, make a $1,000 donation to animal welfare program or animal shelter and is prohibited from owning or residing with an animal for 15 years upon release from the ACI.
On the remaining charges – domestic simple assault domestic, domestic malicious damage or vandalism, and domestic refusal to relinquish a phone – Justice Vogel sentenced Laboy to one year suspended with probation, to run consecutive to the term in prison, ordered the defendant complete batterer's intervention counseling, undergo a substance abuse and mental health evaluation, and ordered to have no contact with the victim.
Laboy was found guilty by a jury on September 11, 2014 after a four day trial.
During the course of the trial, the state proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Laboy killed his ex-girlfriend's three month old puppy Chihuahua, named Blacky. On September 23, 2012, the victim went to the apartment of her ex boyfriend to pick up some personal items she had left behind. Upon entering the apartment, she discovered the dead puppy lying on the living room floor. At that time, Laboy grabbed the victim by the arm and pushed her away and the grabbed and smashed her cell phone.
The victim fled the apartment with the defendant chasing after her holding the dead puppy in his hand, throwing it at her as she ran down the stairwell. Once outside, the victim ran to her car as the defendant continued to chase her and throw threw the puppy at her as she drove away.
The Rhode Island Society for the Prevention and Cruelty to Animals performed a necropsy on the puppy and determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the skull.
"In a rage filled episode, this defendant killed an innocent and helpless puppy and assaulted his ex-girlfriend, angry she left him for another man," said Attorney General Peter Kilmartin. "His actions were depraved and deplorable and the Court recognized that in imposing today's sentence."
Animal abuse cases are handled by the team of specialized prosecutors in our Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit, as the malicious treatment and killing of animals is an element often seen with domestic violence abusers.
Providence Police Detectives Matthew Cute, Doug Allin and Clarence Gough led the investigation and Special Assistant Attorney General Kim Ahern prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.
Under Rhode Island General Law 4-1-5, a person who maliciously kills or wounds any animal shall be imprisoned for no more than two years or be fined no more than $1,000. In addition, any person convicted under this section is required to serve at least 10 hours of community service.