18 April 2024, Texas, Steven Young – The saying goes, the wheels of justice grind slowly. In the case of Carlos Jose Fernandez, Justice took far too long.

A reader alerted us to Fernandez finally receiving a prison term today.

Fernandez was sentenced to five years in prison for animal abuse and given 150 hours of community service. Prison time was finally given to Fernandez on 16 February 2023.

Carlos Jose Fernandez is an example of what is wrong with the Justice system when it comes to animal cruelty. Fernandez appeared before Judges for animal cruelty three times in 2015 and again in 2023.

For Fernandez, Case No. 20150D00266 was dismissed. The judge in this case is Sam Medrano.

The same result was dismissed in Case No. 20150D01473, also before Medrano.

It wasn’t until Case No. 20150D00265 that Sam Medrano decided to sentence Fernandez to six months in State Jail.

Why were two prior cases dismissed? Why is a repeat offender allowed to continue the same pattern of behavior only to be rewarded? Why did it take Judge Moody to send Fernandez to prison finally? We may never know the answers.

If you have been following Steven Zimmerman’s work here at the Jerusalem Press, you know that there are problems in the Judicial system in El Paso.

In each investigation, the El Paso Police Department’s Animal Unit felt there was enough probable cause to arrest Fernandez. A Gand Jury felt that Fernandez committed an act that warranted a “true bill” and indictment against Fernandez. It took a Judge, someone we elected to the bench, to undo the work of EPPD and the DA’s office.

Animal cruelty is a significant issue in El Paso. When my wife and I went to see a group of puppies in Horizon, Texas, we were appalled at the conditions the dogs were living in and how the owners treated the mother and her puppies.

We recorded our encounter with the owners, intending to involve law enforcement, but the Horizon City Police Department told us there was nothing they could do.

Under President Donald Trump, a bill called the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act, or PACT Act, makes intentional acts of cruelty to animals a federal crime that can carry penalties of up to seven years in prison. We have yet to find any federal prosecution under the PACT Act.

We must do our part to ensure that people like Fernandez receive the punishment they deserve.

First, if you live in a jurisdiction that does not have animal cruelty laws or local law enforcement refuses to act on those laws, then make noise. Contact your state representative, your city council, and your local humane society.

If you are in El Paso, the El Paso Humane Society recommends the following:

If you see an animal that you think is in danger and you live within the city limits of El Paso, call the El Paso Police Department at (915) 832-4400 and El Paso Animal Services at (915) 212-PAWS (212-7297). If you see an abused animal outside of the city limits in the County of El Paso, make the report to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office at (915) 546-2280.

The ASPCA recommends including several items in the report.

• A concise, written, factual statement of what you have observed. Include dates and times if possible.
• Try to get pictures of the abusive situation and the animal.
• Get written statements from others who may have witnessed the abuse.
• Keep a copy of all documents/pictures you give to the authorities.
• Be willing to be a witness at trial if necessary.