Former Dog Groomer Sentenced To Prison For Killing Dog

A dog groomer convicted of animal cruelty was sentenced to four years in prison Monday in Tulsa District Court.

The case against Diego Angel outraged animal advocates nationwide, after a video of crime emerged, showing Angel beating the dog over 20 minutes during a grooming session at the now-closed “Doggie Doodles” in South Tulsa. The co-owner of the business, Rebecca Rutherford, is charged as an accessory to the crime, and obstruction, and will face trial in January.

The jury that convicted Angel recommended four years in prison, and the judge agreed. Just before Judge Michelle Keely announced the sentence, Angel fired his private attorney, Dennis Faubert, and made the closing statement himself, through an interpreter. Angel’s wife and two children were in the courtroom, during his increasingly emotional plea for leniency. Angel said “I understand I should have stopped” and said he was “deeply sorry” for the dogs’ death. He asked for probation.

District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler urged the judge to be harsh, arguing that “normal human beings step away and control their emotions” without beating a dog. Angel said in his remarks he was controlling an agitated dog and referred to it as “the accident” and “a mistake” – terms the DA said showed a lack of remorse or understanding.

“He still to this day is refusing to accept responsibility. He's asking for forgiveness but won't address the fact he was committing a crime,” said Kunzweiler.

The owner of the dog, Anthony Sinor, gave a written statement to the court that was read aloud by Kunzweiler, which detailed the ongoing impact on his family.

Several animal advocates who have followed the case, and protested outside Rutherford’s business, were in the courtroom for the decision.

“Definitely justice served for Atlas, it shows that Atlas had value,” said Anna Calhoun, who once worked alongside Angel, for Rutherford.

She said she warned the boss about Angel’s aggressive behavior.

Faubert, the now former attorney for Angel, said the conviction was almost certain with the presentation of the video, and described it as “just indisputable, overwhelming evidence.”

Angel has 10 days to appeal the sentencing before he’s taken into custody of the Department of Corrections. Kunzweiler said the cruelty case would mean Angel would serve about one-third of the sentence, and maybe less, with electronic monitoring on probation.

Previous Coverage:

1. Doggy Doodles Owner Arrested Following Animal Abuse Case
2. Doggy Doodles Owner Appears In Court Following Death Of Dog Inside Grooming Business
3. Trial Begins For Tulsa Dog Groomer Accused Of Animal Cruelty
4. Tulsa Dog Groomer Found Guilty Of Animal Cruelty