Legal Question in Criminal Law in Texas

The cop more or less pressured me into saying my boyfriend was guilty of animal cruelty. The dogs ears had been freshly cut when we got him. Cops came questioned my boyfriend then arrested him. They darted questioning me and kept telling me i was goin to jail. I kept telling the cop over and over again I didn't know who cut his ears. I was in tears because he kept threatening me with jail. He finally pulled out his cuffs and read me my rights so I just said webcut the ears. He also took my 5 year old daughter in the next room without me and questioned her. Now they are offering my boyfriend 18 months due to what me and my daughter said. Is that legal or is there anyway to explain myself in court that he basically scared me into saying what I said??


Asked on 3/26/13, 1:02 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Cynthia Henley Cynthia Henley, Lawyer

Cutting the dogs ears is a HORRIBLE act, and if you guys received the dog with his ears so damaged, you should have taken him to a vet and reported the person from whom you go the dog. As far as I'm concerned, the actions of the new owners is BAD and amounts to cruelty. I have no basis to understand what the exact charge is - what act your boyfriend is accused of doing. And, your daughter made a statement so if her statement inculpates him, that would also have to be overcome.

If he choses a trial, his lawyer can call you as a witness to explain your statements IF the State puts them into evidence. If there is no trial, there is no reason to dispute the statements.

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Answered on 3/27/13, 11:05 am


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