Workers at Exotic Animals Shop Charged With Animal Cruelty
The owner and an employee of a Lake Elsinore business specializing in the sale of exotic snakes, other reptiles and rodents have been charge...
http://www.menifee247.com/2013/07/workers-at-exotic-animals-shop-charged-with-animal-cruelty.html
The owner and an employee of a Lake Elsinore business specializing in the sale of exotic snakes, other reptiles and rodents have been charged with animal cruelty after an investigation reported alleged torture and killing of animals at the site, according to the Riverside County district attorney's office.
According to information provided by animal control officers, more than 15,000 rodents and more than 500 reptiles were either found dead or had to be euthanized after an investigation of Global Captive Breeders, located on Third Street in Lake Elsinore.
The DA's office reported that Global Captive Breeders was a wholesale distributor of exotic snakes, other reptiles and rodents. The owner of the business, Mitchell Steven Behm, was arrested about 7:30 p.m. Friday at his home in the Orange County community of Coto de Caza. He was booked at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta, posted bail and was released on Saturday.
A manager at the business, David Delgado (also known as Jose Magana), was arrested about 10 p.m. Friday at his Rialto home. He was booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside, where he was being held this morning in lieu of $50,000 bail. If Delgado remains in custody, he is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta.
The DA’s office filed charges against both men on Friday. That same day, a Superior Court judge issued warrants for the arrests of Behm and Delgado. Behm has been charged with 106 felony counts of animal cruelty, Penal Code section 597 (b). Delgado has been charged with the same 106 counts, plus an additional 11 counts of Penal Code section 597 (a) for the alleged direct torture or killing of rodents.
The DA's office reported that the investigation began in December 2012 when an animal control officer for Animal Friends of the Valleys went to the business. According to her investigation, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) had an informant working at the business for about two months. The animal control investigation revealed that Delgado was seen causing traumatic injury or death to numerous rodents at the facility. It is also alleged in the investigation that Behm, the business owner, was aware of the deplorable conditions at the facility and directed the cruelty of reptiles and rodents.
According to information provided by animal control officers, more than 15,000 rodents and more than 500 reptiles were either found dead or had to be euthanized after an investigation of Global Captive Breeders, located on Third Street in Lake Elsinore.
The DA's office reported that Global Captive Breeders was a wholesale distributor of exotic snakes, other reptiles and rodents. The owner of the business, Mitchell Steven Behm, was arrested about 7:30 p.m. Friday at his home in the Orange County community of Coto de Caza. He was booked at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta, posted bail and was released on Saturday.
A manager at the business, David Delgado (also known as Jose Magana), was arrested about 10 p.m. Friday at his Rialto home. He was booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside, where he was being held this morning in lieu of $50,000 bail. If Delgado remains in custody, he is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta.
The DA’s office filed charges against both men on Friday. That same day, a Superior Court judge issued warrants for the arrests of Behm and Delgado. Behm has been charged with 106 felony counts of animal cruelty, Penal Code section 597 (b). Delgado has been charged with the same 106 counts, plus an additional 11 counts of Penal Code section 597 (a) for the alleged direct torture or killing of rodents.
The DA's office reported that the investigation began in December 2012 when an animal control officer for Animal Friends of the Valleys went to the business. According to her investigation, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) had an informant working at the business for about two months. The animal control investigation revealed that Delgado was seen causing traumatic injury or death to numerous rodents at the facility. It is also alleged in the investigation that Behm, the business owner, was aware of the deplorable conditions at the facility and directed the cruelty of reptiles and rodents.
"causing traumatic injury or death to numerous rodents"....bet he was feeding rodents to snakes. OMG!!! Snakes EATING rodents??? Send them to the gas chamber !!!
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