FBI agent indicted in Chihuahua's shooting death

[douglas9]

Source: Waco Tribune

A local FBI agent who reportedly shot and killed a 3-pound Chihuahua named Sassy in front of his home near Lorena in February was indicted Wednesday on felony charges that could end his career.Comment on this story

A McLennan County grand jury indicted 39-year-old Lovett Leslie Ledger Jr. for cruelty to animals, a state jail felony punishable by up to two years in a state jail and a $10,000 fine.

Before the grand jury decided to indict Ledger, prosecutor Crawford Long granted his request to tell them his side of the story. Ledger was in the closed-door grand jury room for about 25 minutes, and then his wife, Jacqueline Ledger, spent about 10 minutes with the grand jury.

Long denied that he afforded Ledger special privileges because he is in law enforcement. Long said he would allow any criminal defendant a chance to speak to the grand jury, but added that most choose not to.

Read more: http://www.wacotrib.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/07/10/07102008wacFBIagentindicted.html

[crikkett]

1. it must have been a matter of national security n/t

[hlthe2b]

2. What a cruel prick....

[hobbit709]

3. Must have looked like a terrorist or a liberal. to him.

:sarcasm:

[leveymg]

4. The dog was clearly an illegal immigrant eom

[Ian David]

5. He thought it was trying to break into the neighbor's house across the street.

But really, it was just trying to get a better signal on its cellphone.

[DCKit]

6. *THIS* is what they're using the Grand Juries for now? Jeebus. n/t

[Ian David]

19. Anyone who would senselessly kill a pet is also a danger to humans.

Serial killers start by torturing and killing animals before finally escalating to other humans.

[roguevalley]

27. a soul is a soul and when its harmed unjustly, there should be an

accounting. what kind of bastard would do this?

[douglas9]

7. FBI Swat Team Member and Sniper..........

Animal cruelty by an FBI SWAT team member

FBI agent Lovett Leslie Ledger, Jr., 39, of Lorena surrendered Friday morning to McLennan County authorities and was charged with animal cruelty in the shooting death of a Central Texas family’s pet dog. The complaint stems from a McLennan County Sheriff’s Office investigation of the dog’s death on Feb. 29. According to the arrest affidavit, Ledger told a witness that he shot the gun with a pump bb/pellet gun and said he, "must have pumped the gun up too much.". The 3-to-4 pound Chihuahua was walking on Estes Road in front of its home when it was shot once. It ran into the yard of one of Ledger’s neighbors, where it died. Sources said Ledger is a sniper and a member of an FBI SWAT team. The FBI in Austin earlier confirmed that an agent was under investigation, but didn’t identify the agent by name.

http://lubbockcountyregister.blogspot.com/2008_03_07_archive.html

[BearSquirrel2]

14. Is this the type of training that goes on in Quantico ...

Like they didn't know if you don't want to kill something you should use chemicals like mace instead of shooting it.

I'm curious though, it didn't say anything about WHY he shot the dog.

[roguevalley]

28. it wasn't even near his house, it was in front of its own. hang him.

[Divernan]

8. FBI's own kid was standing next to him, watching Dad shoot a neighbor's pet.

More from the OP's link:

Mitchell has said that her dogs were barking and she went to the door and saw Sassy walking on Estes Road in front of her house. The dog lurched to one side upon being shot, then rolled into a yard where she died, she has said.

“I’ve never heard a noise like that from an animal,” Mitchell told the Tribune-Herald in March, describing it as “a screaming sound.”

She saw Ledger lower the pellet gun and walk inside his home with one of his children. A group of people gathered around the dog, and Mitchell said she saw a hole in Sassy’s neck above her pink rhinestone collar.

Ledger INITIALLY LIED TO INVESTIGATORS (emphasis added) about the dog’s death but later told deputies he shot the dog, according to an affidavit filed to support Ledger’s arrest.

[xultar]

9. Let me show you a three pound chihuahua...what prick would shoot one...

In the picture from left to right
Onyx 5 lbs
Mr. Sprinkles 3.5 lbs
Xena 3 lbs
Casper 6 lbs

Just sayin, as Chihuahua parent I hope they fire his ass and lock it up under the jail and throw away the fucking key.

[yellerpup]

10. Beautiful babies.

What could he have been thinking? I'm with you, under the jail!

[RebelOne]

18. I also have one of those.

She is 3-1/2 pounds, is 3 months old and her name is Honey Bear

[Ian David]

20. One of my dogs is a Chihuahua / Pomeranian mix. He's a PommerHuaHua. n/t

[roguevalley]

29. oh sweet god. I am in love. I took a lost basset hound back to its

owners today and was prepared to keep it until it died of old age if they couldn't be found. Anyone who would hurt an animals is a dangerous person. Your babies are awesome. I adore chichuahuas. they have the hearts of lions.

[a la izquierda]

11. Wonderful that this guy is allowed to have

a gun and deal with people.:sarcasm:

I bet he didn't like that Mexican soundin' name.

[xyouth]

12. Demons were allegedly talking to Ledger through Sassy the Chihuaua,

Telling him to kill.

[Howler]

13. What A !!!!!.......

I hope they sentence him to the full two years in jail and the 10,000 fine.
He does not need to be dealing with people or any other living thing with a gun and a badge!x(

[Blue_Tires]

15. the dog said "yo quiero taco bell"

[The Stranger]

16. He disqualified himself from being able to be a law enforcement officer.

He simply showed that he is unqualified to carry a gun and serve law enforcement. He gets what he deserves, fortunately.

[Ian David]

17. The timing for him could not be worse. Beverly Hills Chihuahua is releasing October 3rd.

And the amazingly cute trailers for the film are in all the theaters:

Beverly Hills Chihuahua Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoNDp03udhg


Beverly Hills Chihuahua (2008)
Release Date: 3 October 2008 (USA)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1014775/

[mitchum]

21. Dirtbag

[YOY]

22. They need a grand jury for that???

Just take away the pricks badge...

[aspergris]

26. They need a grand jury

for CRIMINAL CHARGES

his badge can be taken away by OPA which is administrative and an entirely different investigation

Rule of law matters.

I will give him props for testifying in the grand jury, as most criminal defendants will CHOOSE not to. He (erroneously according to the GJ) thought he had a case, and the GJ disagreed. Testifying in grand jury is NOT recommended by most defense attorneys since the rules of evidence are broader, anything you say in GJ can be used to impeach you in the actual trial, and the defense attorney CAN'T even be present.

Iow, it's the jury (which can ask questions) and the prosecutor. No defense allowed to object, etc.

Iow, the process worked (apparently... I don't know the fact pattern but it sounds bad from here) and he was indicted.

God knows what he was thinking, and he will be punished

[Wizard777]

23. We had an FBI Agent shoot a boy scout in the face. No charges.

He was on a idylic date with his childhood sweetheart. The FBI pulled them over in a case of mistaken identity. An FBI agent shot him in the face with a high powered rifle for following the orders of the most immediate agent. They didn't do a damned thing right leading up to the shooting. When the FBI finished it's investigation. That agent didn't do a damned thing wrong according to them. Ruby Ridge Rules have no teeth or even application. Now they have indicted an Agent for shooting a dog. :wow: :mad: :grr: :nuke: If only humans had the rights being afforded that dog.

[rg302200]

24. What an asshole

that prick doesn't deserve to have a badge

[Neshanic]

25. Whats the deal with Chihuahuas? The one cut in half in Phoenix, now this?

[lonestarnot]

30. Good you bastard!

[Endangered Specie]

31. Two years, hell I bet most sex crimes don't get that much...

btw those dogs are bloody annoying.

[Pastiche423]

32. I understand your screen name now

[RavensChick]

33. What the hell was he smoking to do a terrible thing?

The only crime the dog committed was get in his crosshairs and gets clipped by this jerkoff. Put his ass underneath the jail cell!