Convicted dog abuser faces new charges

A Maxwell man faces new charges less than a month after he was convicted of animal abuse.

The Colusa County District Attorney's Office filed charges Wednesday against Jesus Melecio after his pit bull reportedly attacked a man and another dog. The charges include a violation of a court order to keep the dog restrained.

The 34-year-old Maxwell man was sentenced Sept. 10 to serve 10 days in jail after he was convicted of cropping his dog's ears with household scissors without using antiseptic or anesthesia.

Judge John H. Tiernan criticized Melecio's treatment of the animal but allowed him to keep the dog.

That same dog, a 9-month-old pit bull, allegedly attacked a man and another dog Sept. 25, according to investigator Pamela Craig with the DA's office.

The victim, an unidentified 56-year-old Maxwell man, was bitten on his hand and his dog, a Labrador-retriever mix, was bitten on the neck. Both are expected to make a full recovery, Craig said.

Craig said the dog was kept in a kennel made partially of a thin plywood material and apparently chewed his way out.

Craig said parameters of Melecio's probation included keeping the dog secured.

"It's frightening to think what would have happened if it had been a small child playing with the dog," Craig said.

The pit bull is in quarantine, a standard procedure after an attack. The owner may consider surrendering the dog for euthanasia, Craig said. A court date for Melecio hasn't been scheduled yet.

Investigators said the pit bull was first found in September in a dirty kennel, covered with blood, with open wounds and suffering from fly infestation.

"I can see why the pit bull has anger-management issues. I'd be upset too if someone had cut my ears off with scissors," Craig said.

Contact Rob Parsons at 458-2121 or rparsons@tcnpress.com.