Information on the crime of willfully causing injury to a peace officer's animal is found at California penal code section 600(a).

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PC 600 Crimes

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PC 600(a) Willful injury to a peace officer's animal: Any person who willfully and maliciously, and with no legal justification, strikes, beats, kicks, cuts, stabs, shoots, poisons, or otherwise injures a peace officer's animal that is working at the supervision of a peace officer, is guilty of injury to a peace officer's animal (Abbrev.)

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PC 600(b) Obstructing a peace officer's animal: Any person who willfully and maliciously, and with no legal justification, interferes with or obstructs a horse or dog being used by a peace officer in the discharge or attempted discharge of his or her duties, who is acting under the direct supervision of a peace officer in the discharge or attempted discharge of his or her assigned duties, by frightening, teasing, agitating, harassing, or hindering the horse or dog is guilty of obstructing a peace officer's animal (Abbrev.).

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A police officer's animal can include any type of animal that is being directed by a police officer during the course of the police officer's employment, but for the most part, PC 600 crimes apply to dogs, horses, and birds that are injured or obstructed.

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Note: Birds, specifically eagles, are now being used by police officer to combat the rising number of drone threats to police officer safety.

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PC 600 Punishments

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PC 600(a) Willfully causing injury to a peace officer's animal is charged as a misdemeanor or as as a felony. When the accused is convicted of PC 600(a) S a felony, he or she could face up to three years in jail. When PC 600(a) is charged as a misdemeanor, the accused could face up ton one year in the county jail.

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PC 600(b) Obstructing a peace officer's animal is charged as a misdemeanor. If found guilty, the accused could face up to one year in jail.

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Probation:  A probation sentence a period of supervision instead of jail. Probation sentences are allowed in PC 600 cases depending on the facts of the case, the defendant's criminal history, and other facts. A probation sentence for a felony conviction is monitored by a felony probation officer, whereas a probation sentence for a misdemeanor conviction is monitored by the court.

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PC 1170(h): Willfully causing injury to a peace officer's animal is not a serious or violent felony (as defined in California law). If found guilty of PC 600(a) as a felony, the defendant may be allowed to have  any jail sentence that is ordered split (served partially out of jail on work release), or suspended (not served unless the defendant violates a condition of his or her out of custody sentence). Also, jail sentences for misdemeanor and felony conviction of PC 600 crimes are served in a local county jail (as opposed to a state prison) even if the defendant is sentenced to more than a year.conviction ​

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Bail: Bail is amount of money or property posted with the court that is intended to assure the defendant's presence in court during the criminal proceedings. The schedule bail amount for PC 600(a) is $25,000 in felony cases and $5,000 in misdemeanor cases. This amount can be raised or lowered by a judge at the defendant's first court appearance (arraignment). In some cases, it may be possible to be released on the defendant's own recognizance (OR) and without the need to post bail.

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In addition to any jail time that might be ordered after a conviction for PC 600, if found guilty, the defendant could face any of the additional punishments : addition or professional licensing consequences, fines and fees, restitution for injury to the peace officer's animal, criminal protective orders, and more.

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PC 600 Defenses

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Common defenses to a criminal charge of willful injury to a peace officer's animal include: insufficient evidence , mistake of fact (defendant did not know the animal was acting at the direction of a police officer), insanity, false arrest, legal justification (self defense or false arrest) and more.

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Note: When a defendant is attacked by a police dog it is sometimes natural for a person to fight off the attacking dog. In this effort, the police dog may receive injury; however, this should not be considered criminal conduct. It is the willfulness to injure a known peace officer's animal that is is criminal. Every case is different and whether or not the defendant is merely defending himself or herself from further injury from an attacking dog or attacking a dog regardless of the need to defend himself or herself is determined on a case by case basis.

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If you have been arrested or charged with willfully causing injury to a peace officer's animal (PC 600(a), or obstructing an officer's animal (PC 600(b) contact out criminal defense lawyers today for a free consultation. Call today!

 

909-913-3138​

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