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Parolee Convicted Of Sex Abuse Against Chihuahua

SACRAMENTO (AP) — A Sacramento judge has sentenced a parolee convicted of animal abuse to serve 10 years in state prison and ordered him to register as a sex offender.

The Sacramento Bee reports that 55-year-old Robert DeShields was ordered to serve the prison sentence Friday after being convicted of felony animal cruelty for the sexual abuse of a Chihuahua mix named "Shadow."

The newspaper says the dog suffered severe injuries that required surgery and now lives in a foster home.

During Friday's hearing, Sacramento County Deputy District Attorney Hilary Bagley Franzoia argued that DeShields be should treated as a sexual offender for the rest of his life because he is a danger to society.

Bagley says it may be the first time that Jessica's Law has been applied in a case involving sexual abuse of an animal.

(Copyright 2011 The Associated Press)

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