TULSA, Okla. — A former Tulsa groomer was sentenced to four years in jail after a jury found him guilty of animal cruelty in August.
Diego Jaimes Angel was charged with animal cruelty in September 2023 after a client accused him of hanging and beating their dog to death.
TAW contacted Tulsa police, who started an investigation into the Doggy Doodles dog groomer.
According to the court affidavit, a co-worker working close to Angel said she saw him hanging and repeatedly punching Atlas the Golden Doodle after the dog defecated on the grooming table. She said it lasted several minutes until he stopped.
At that point, he allegedly lowered and raised the grooming table, choking the dog. She said when Angel realized the dog was not breathing, he and another employee performed CPR and took the dog to a nearby animal hospital. The dog could not be saved.
Court records allege that the witness/co-worker talked to the grooming shop owner, who then pulled the security footage for review. The affidavit says an employee with the security company described the video as "a man murdering a dog."
Angel told police the dog's grooming was going well until the dog stopped breathing on the table. He said that's when he put the dog on the floor and performed CPR.
On Oct. 10, 2023, Tulsa's district attorney filed two charges against Rebecca Rutherford, the owner of Doggy Doodles.
Court documents allege Rutherford attempted to clean up evidence of the crime, lied to police officers and refused to turn over security footage.
Rutherford is charged with accessory to a felony and obstruction of an officer. She is set for jury trial in 2025.
Angel pleaded not guilty to his charges, however a jury found him guilty and recommended four years in prison.
On Oct. 14, a Tulsa judge followed the jury's recommendation and sentenced him.
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