September 21, 2006

Roosevelt Man Pleads Guilty in Animal Cruelty Case

Rice urges residents to report animal cruelty to her office

MINEOLA, NY – Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that Geofreda Rivera, 22, of Roosevelt, has pleaded guilty in Nassau County Court to Aggravated Cruelty to Animals, a Class E felony punishable by up two years in prison. Rice used the opportunity to once again remind the public to report potential animal cruelty to the District Attorney’s Office (516-739-6666).

“My administration simply will not tolerate the abuse of animals in Nassau County. Not only will my office aggressively charge and prosecute these cases, but I am once again asking the public for help in reporting incidents of abuse, neglect and mistreatment to my office,” said Rice.

Mr. Rivera admitted to causing the death of a female pit bull earlier this year by chaining her on a leash so short she hanged herself. In January and February of this year, the defendant was seen by a member of I-Speak Humane Society throwing an injured pit bull into a pen covered with feces.

On February 20, 2006, members of the Town of Hempstead Animal Control and Emergency Services personnel responded to the defendant’s house and rescued five pit bulls that were trapped in a closet with no food or water. Mr. Rivera was arrested that day and charged with felony Aggravated Cruelty to Animals.

He pleaded guilty Tuesday in front of the Honorable Alan Honorof. He remains out on bail and is scheduled to be sentenced November 16.

Assistant District Attorney Jennine Mazzola is handling the case for the District Attorney’s Office. Mr. Rivera is being represented by Anthony Piacentini, Esq.