Convicted felon admits to shooting puppy and possessing handgun
Published at | Updated atST. ANTHONY — A convicted felon on the run from Pennsylvania admitted this afternoon to shooting and seriously injuring her pit bull puppy.
Margaret F. Vaszquez appeared before District Judge Gregory Moeller in Fremont County on charges of felony unlawful possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and misdemeanor cruelty to animals.
Vaszquez was arrested June 16. Court documents say she was in possession of a .45 caliber firearm on May 5 and she used the firearm to shoot her puppy.
After she shot the dog, it ran to a nearby home and the neighbor called police. Officers followed a blood trail back to Vaszquez’s home and she told them she shot the animal because she thought it was fighting with another dog. She admitted she had been drinking.
The dog was taken to a vet and it’s unknown if the animal survived the shooting.
Vaszquez is a convicted felon after being found guilty of three charges in Pennsylvania including criminal conspiracy and theft.
Vaszquez entered a plea agreement Tuesday and changed her original plea of not guilty. As part of the agreement, she pleaded guilty to the weapons charge and the cruelty to animals charged was dismissed. Fremont County prosecutor Karl Lewies recommended probation.
When Moeller questioned Vaszquez about whether she is currently on parole or probation, she hesitated and said no.
Moeller again questioned her about being on probation and her public defender, Paul Butikofer, answered and stated his client is on parole in Pennsylvania.
Vaszquez also pleaded guilty to the felony charge of unlawful possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. She could be sentenced up the five years in prison and ordered to pay up to a $5000 fine.
Vaszquez is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 11.