Pre-trial starts for suspect in San Juan dog strangling case

SAN JUAN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The suspect who trespassed onto a private property and strangled a dog in San Juan earlier this year was ordered to appear in court Monday for a pre-trial hearing, court records show.

Jacob Luna was arrested in April on four charges, including theft, animal cruelty, criminal trespassing and tampering with evidence.

The animal cruelty incident was reported by homeowner Brenda Gonzalez after home security footage showed Luna trespass onto her property.

In the footage, Luna can be seen harming Gonzalez's 11-year-old pug, Max.

During the case investigation, Luna confessed to taking the dog home and strangling it before tossing the body in a nearby trash can.

Luna, who was 21 at the time of the incident, was presented a $104,000 bond in the animal cruelty case.

The first pre-trial hearing took place Monday at the 275th District Court presided by Judge Marla Cuellar in Edinburg.

Cuellar has ordered Luna to have zero contact with animals, court documents show.

A second pre-trial hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m., Wednesday, January 15.