
An animal abuser, Lester Paul Richmond, has been sentenced for the extreme abuse that caused the death of a husky puppy in June of 2023.
Richmond was sentenced to one year in county jail with no credit for days served and three years of supervised probation. The court made the charge a permanent felony.
In June of this year, Richmond pled guilty to one count of Intentionally or Knowingly Subjecting an Animal to Cruel Mistreatment, a Class Six undesignated Felony. Under the plea agreement, Richmond received the harshest penalty possible under the law for a first-time offender.
“Statistics show that individuals who abuse animals are more likely to harm people,” said County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. “This sentence does more than hold this defendant accountable – it sends a clear message that cruelty to animals will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
After being charged with animal abuse, warrants were issued for Richmond’s arrest on two separate occasions for failing to appear in court. MCAO Animal Cruelty Detective Heather Krimm and Scottsdale detectives were crucial in locating him, ultimately leading to his capture.
“Our detectives never gave up on this case and worked to ensure Richmond would stand before a judge. We are thankful for our incredible partnership with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and their commitment to seeing justice done in this case,” said Scottsdale Police Chief Jeff Walther.
“With the help of community members and out-of-state law enforcement agencies, I was able to locate this defendant and make sure he was brought to justice,” shared Detective Krimm, adding, “Animals are voiceless, and we must step up to be their voice in these cases.”
As part of his sentencing and probation terms, Richmond is not allowed to own animals of any kind and must complete the Benchmark Animal Rehabilitative Course, an online animal cruelty prevention and education program. Richmond must also pay restitution.