McALLEN, Texas - A federal magistrate in McAllen has accepted the guilty pleas of Guatemalan National Luis Gilberto Cruz-Solis, 19, of willfully and maliciously harming a police animal and for illegally entering the country, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today.
On May 12, 2013, Border Patrol K-9 “Dinie" was conducting line-watch operations with her handler and other federal agents when they discovered approximately 30 suspected undocumented aliens fleeing into an orchard near Mission. While in pursuit, “Dinie" located Cruz-Solis hiding in the brush. As the K-9 approached, Cruz-Solis attacked “Dinie" with a knife and stabbed her in the right side of her neck, inflicting a wound two inches deep that narrowly missed her spinal cord. Despite her injury, “Dinie" led agents to Cruz-Solis where he was apprehended.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter E. Ormsby accepted the pleas and set sentencing for June 5, 2013, at 3:00 p.m. At that time, Cruz-Solis faces up to a year in prison and a possible $100,000 fine.
This case is being investigated by Border Patrol and the FBI. Assistant United States Attorneys Grady J. Leupold and Kimberly Leo prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
