Man Charged With Killing Dog Pleads Not Guilty: Court Records

EAST HAMPTON, NY — A man charged with brutally choking, stabbing, and killing a 4-year old Cockapoo in East Hampton on Dec. 2 has pleaded not guilty, according to court records.

Jose Galvez-Garcia, 21, of Springs appeared before Suffolk County Criminal Court Justice Marc Cohen Friday and pleaded not guilty to one count of aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony, court records indicate.

Bail was set at $25,000 cash and $50,000; he was remanded in lieu of bail to the Suffolk County Correctional Facility, court records said. His next court date is scheduled for Jan. 17.

Galvez-Garcia choked and repeatedly stabbed Simba to death, then dumped her badly mutilated body, police said.

According to East Hampton Town Police, Jose J. Galvez-Garcia, 21, removed Simba from a relative's property in East Hampton before driving to a secluded, wooded area near the end of Breeze Hill Rd., where he repeatedly choked and stabbed the dog to death before leaving her body 50' from the road.

Galvez-Garcia told investigators he killed the dog because he was "angry with the way he had been treated by a family member who owned the dog," police said.

Simba's body was discovered by one of her owners, who had been searching for the dog since she went missing, police said; authorities were then notified.

Garcia was arrested and charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony, police said.

Simba's family took to social media to mourn the loss of their dog, who was family, they said.

"To my beautiful Simba," wrote Stephanie Yanes of East Hampton: "I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you. I'm sorry that you were so innocent to realize the evils in this world but God has gained another angel and now we must let you go."

Simba, Yanes explained, was a girl; she was named "Simba" because her family loved the name so much.

"Thank you for being my pillow to cry on. Thank you for letting me love you. Thank you for annoying me for food under the table. Thank you for making me run down the street to catch you. Thank you for always being the first to greet me when I came home. Thank you for teaching me how to love another dog again. Thank you for keeping my parents company when my sister and I left," she wrote. "Thank you for protecting our chickens. Thank you for making a house with pieces of furniture feel like home."

Yanes' heartbroken message of love continued: "There is so much I can thank you for but I never knew a white ball of fur would become some a huge part of my life and no one can ever understand the love our family gave you. Although we weren't the richest, and we may not have had the biggest house, you always gave us the most love and were always by our side, no matter what. I can't explain the pain that is running through my body right now but I can tell you that Simba always had the energy to keep us happy, she always put us first — she is what completed our family," she said.

Detectives are asking anyone with information contact East Hampton Town Police at 631-537-7575. All calls will be kept confidential.

Speaking out to Patch after the tragedy, Yanes said she wants to remain strong, for her beloved Simba to help other animals being mistreated.

"I want people to know that she was loved," Yanes said. "She just wasn't a dog — she was the glue that kept our family together."

Stephen Grossman, the Sag Harbor-based attorney representing Galvez-Garcia, did not immediately return a call requesting comment.

Patch photos of Simba courtesy Stephanie Yanes.