People v. Primbas

Following a bench trial, defendant Samuel Primbas was convicted of aggravated cruelty to a companion animal and was sentenced to two years of felony probation. On appeal, defendant argues that the State was required, but failed, to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he intended to cause the death of the companion animal. We affirm.

Georgia Bouziotis testified that defendant and his mother, Jeanette Primbas, are her distant relatives whom she has known her entire life. On the morning of November 17, 2007, Georgia took her nine-year-old pet dog, Shelby, for a walk. Shelby was a black and tan…