A judge recently made an example of a Cortez woman who pleaded guilty in an animal cruelty case.
Appearing out of custody at an arraignment hearing earlier this month, Marie Sage, 43, agreed to a deferred judgment to a charge of aggravated animal cruelty after she fatally shot a neighbor’s dog three times with a rifle in February.
“I don’t believe a jail sentence is appropriate,” argued public defender Amy R. Smith.
Smith claimed the dog entered her client’s property and acted aggressively toward her pet, and that Sage made a poor split-second decision.
“This is a moral transgression that requires moral retribution,” countered Assistant District Attorney Sean Murray.
Requesting a five-day jail sentence, Murray claimed the dog was killed along County Road 22.9 simply because it was barking. Murray argued that the defendant’s actions were unnecessary.
District Court Judge Todd Plewe agreed, stating that a jail sentence would serve as an appropriate deterrent. Plewe added that a jail sentence would send a message to the community that a resident can’t shoot their neighbor’s pet.
“The defendant has given no reasonable explanation for her decision,” said Plewe, sentencing Sage to two days in jail followed by three days of house arrest.
After her release, Sage will be placed on 24 months of unsupervised probation. She was also ordered to perform 100 hours of community service. Fines and court costs totaled $433.50.
Sage was allowed to report to the Montezuma County jail on June 29.
