Last week King County Superior Court Judge Samuel Chung ruled that Seattle musician Lynn Sepeda was guilty of 2nd degree animal cruelty for brutally beating his girlfriend’s chihuahua last year.
Lynn Sepeda beat Chilly for pooping on the floor and nipping at him, leaving the tiny Chihuahua paralyzed. Photo from http://soundcloud.com/lynn-sepeda
A former drummer for the band Hot Roddin’ Romeos, Sepeda was kicked out the band last November after being charged with animal cruelty for repeatedly punching his girlfriend’s chihuahua so hard he was paralyzed.
But after his conviction, dog advocates discovered that the band announced last month that Sepeda was playing with them again.
That generated a huge backlash against the group from furious dog lovers who flooded the its Facebook page with criticism for rehiring Sepeda and threatening to boycott the band.
The group was also removed from the lineup of a show scheduled for tomorrow at Slim’s Last Chance Saloon in Seattle.
In the face of the growing public outrage, band member D.C. Wheeler announced on the group’s Facebook page yesterday morning that that they fired Sepeda again.
Several hours later his statement was taken down, and last night the band posted an apology that appears to be from the whole band, not just Wheeler.
Chilly is recovering from his injuries but he still gets tired very easily. Photo from Chilly’s Journey Continues.
According to the trial transcripts (Case # 15-101018-9 SEA), Sepeda admitted to both his girlfriend and the vet who examined Chilly that he hit the dog after it defecated in the bedroom and nipped at him when he tried to reach it after it ran under the bed.
Sepeda grabbed Chilly so hard he left fingerprints on the dog’s body. He beat the dog after it went to the bathroom again.
During the trial Sepeda changed his story, claiming that he didn’t punch Chilly, he just “swatted” him..
But Dr. Tabitha Fletcher, the vet who treated Chilly, testified that “the injury was consistent with a major trauma caused by someone punching the dog, not slapping the dog.”
Fortunately the Judge didn’t buy it, saying that the Court didn’t find Sepeda’s testimony “as credible,” and said it was “self-serving.”
Second degree animal cruelty is a gross misdemeanor with a punishment of up to a year in prison and/or up to a $5000 fine.
Chilly has a sweet personality. Photo from Chilly’s Journey Continues.
Sepeda is scheduled to be sentenced on November 23rd.
And Chilly? He’s doing better.
His mom broke up with Sepeda the day he punched Chilly. For the last year she got him the medical care he needed, and now Chilly can walk short distances although his legs are still stiff and wobbly. You can watch his progress on his Facebook page, Chilly’s Journey Continues.
Several dog advocates said they will be in court to support Chilly and watch to see if the Judge Chung gives him the maximum sentence, which I think he deserves. I’ll post the time and location of the sentencing when I get them.
The advocates will also continue to monitor the Hot Roddin’ Romeos show to make sure they don’t bring Sepeda back in the band again.
I hope dog lovers will pack the courtroom to show Judge Chung that we support his decision and want him to give Sepeda the maximum penalty.
Anyone who savagely beats a dog that weighs just a few pounds deserves nothing less.
Here is the initial story about Chilly after Sepeda beat him last November. WARNING: It does contain disturbing images you may not want to see.
If these poor excuses for human beings were sentenced to suffer the same punishment that they inflicted on the animal things would change… The human is way to wimpy to take what is coming to them. The sweet animals who give unconditional love take every beating and still can love. Shame Shame on these people who do this. put him away for 10 – 15 years and make him pay the maximum penalty PLUS – he should be ordered to donate to animal rescues for the rest of his miserable life.
Valhalla Rescue will be there as silent watchers to ensure the judge hands down the stiffest penalty possible.
I hope they punish him to the fullest extent of the law. This guy is a piece of crap for a human being. No animal deserves to be treated like this. The State of Washington needs to set an example that we do NOT take lightly the Inhumane treatment of animals, that’s why animal cruelty is a class C felony the only reason why he isn’t getting a felony charge is because he’s never been convicted of anything before, really he has lucked out, he had an assault charge but that person moved out of the state so they were unable to prosecute him for that, then there was the ex girlfriend in 2005 that got a protection order against him but she never followed through apparently he had done something to her cat as well. I hope this get shared around and around and around people need to know what a scum sucking lowlife this guy really is .
Here’s what gets me: the band “forgave him”. That speaks volumes about who they are as people. If a victim chooses to offer forgiveness to a perpetrator that’s one thing, but for a group of adults to forgive a person for the kind of cruelty Sepeda inflicted on a victim who cannot speak for himself is just disgusting. I don’t care how much they needed a drummer, the band members indicted themselves.
Lots of people will be watching to see if Sepeda pops up at any more of their shows.
He was pretty well on his way to being shunned by the music scene before this even happened. I hope he cleans up, moves away, and gets a special place in hell where all the little dogs get drunk and beat him up.
Well said. This is a dangerous freak and indeed does deserve to have the crap knocked out of him. The guys in the band are just as cowardly as they only fired him because of pressure not principle. What losers.
This man is no man at all .if we continue to give these people a slap on the hand for such a terrible crime they will have nothing to fear. I feel he actually deserves the same but we are supposed to be of higher intelligence I’m not sure about that in his case . Please give him the highest penalties under the law possible sincerely
Violent coward, he deserves a beat down to see how he likes it. Dirtbag
Didn’t they just change animal cruelty to a FELONY, do the same to him and he’ll be shittin on the floor.
PRICK
Although some people would like to believe that animal abuse is now a felony it is still up to the prosecutor’s and the judges to start implementing those charges
There’s a reason for a maximum penalty–and he’s it. Give it to him.