Community Should Fear Future Incidents, Say Experts

Norfolk, Va.-This morning, PETA fired off a letter to Deputy District Attorney Steve Dal Porto, urging him to vigorously prosecute Nick Sigmon and Paul Collins, both of Castro Valley. The men face charges stemming from a July 13 incident in which they allegedly affixed a lit, illegal firecracker to Sigmon’s rabbit—named Lucky—and threw her into a lake. After the firecracker failed to detonate, Sigmon reportedly retrieved her from the water. News sources state that one of the men posted photos of Lucky’s ordeal on a Web site, which led to their being charged.
“Animal abusers are cowards,” says PETA Cruelty Caseworker Daniel Paden. “They take their issues out on the most defenseless beings available to them. Area residents have reason to be concerned. According to leading mental health professionals and law-enforcement agencies, perpetrators of violent acts against animals are often repeat offenders who pose a serious threat not only to other animals, but to the community as a whole.”

PETA’s letter to Deputy District Attorney Steve Dal Porto follows.

August 2, 2004

Steve Dal Porto, Deputy District Attorney
Alameda County District Attorney’s Office
24405 Amador|
Hayward, CA 94544

Dear Mr. Dal Porto:

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the world’s largest animal rights organization, with more than 800,000 members and supporters dedicated to animal protection. Our office continues to be inundated with outraged calls from throughout California regarding a recent cruelty-to-animals case that your office is reviewing, involving Castro Valley residents Nick Sigmon, 18, and Paul Collins, 20.

Sigmon and Collins face charges stemming from their alleged July 13 decision to affix a lit firecracker to Sigmon’s rabbit, “Lucky,” before throwing her into Lake Don Castro. Evidently claiming that his plans to attend college in the fall prevented him from caring for her any longer, Sigmon is said to have duct-taped the powerful and illegal explosive to the animal and later watched as she exhausted herself swimming when the “M-1000” failed to detonate. Lucky is now apparently recovering from the alleged ordeal.

Mental health professionals and top law-enforcement officials consider cruelty to animals a red flag. The American Psychiatric Association identifies animal abuse as one of the diagnostic criteria for conduct disorders, and the FBI uses reports of cruelty to animals in analyzing the threat potential of suspected and known criminals. Experts agree that it is the severity of the behavior—not the species of the victim—that matters.

On behalf of our thousands of members in California, we ask that, upon conviction and in addition to a period of incarceration, Nick Sigmon, Paul Collins, and any codefendants later charged each be required to undergo a thorough psychological evaluation followed by mandatory counseling - the safety of the community may depend on it. Because repeat crimes are the rule rather than the exception among animal abusers and given the malicious and supremely idiotic nature of their alleged actions that day, we implore you to take every measure necessary to ensure that the accused are barred from all contact with animals and that any who many remain in their respective charges are immediately seized.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Daniel Paden, Cruelty Caseworker
Domestic Animal and Wildlife Rescue & Information Department