VENTURA, California – District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Silvano Duran (DOB 2/13/86), of Santa Paula, pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor counts of failure to care for animals. He was then sentenced by Superior Court Judge Donald Coleman to 30 days in the work release program, and 36 months of probation. Duran was ordered to pay restitution, and not to own or possess any animals while on probation.
This case stems from an incident on March 11, 2014, when the Santa Paula Police Department responded to a call of several dogs fighting. When officers arrived, they observed 17 dogs covered in blood with extensive injuries. At least seven of the dogs were fighting each other. Officers immediately seized the 17 dogs and transferred them to the Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center (SPARC). The dogs were medically treated and housed at SPARC. The dogs are currently awaiting adoption through SPARC.