A Gilroy man who could face life in prison in the death of his
wife’s 6-week-old puppy did not enter a plea Tuesday as the hearing
was delayed two weeks to allow his attorney additional time to
investigate the case.
A Gilroy man who could face life in prison in the death of his wife’s 6-week-old puppy did not enter a plea Tuesday as the hearing was delayed two weeks to allow his attorney additional time to investigate the case, said JoAnne McCracken, Santa Clara County Superior Court judge.
Bud Wally Ruiz, 53, is accused of killing the puppy, a Chihuahua named Teddy, after his wife called police to report he had assaulted her at her home in the 8800 block of Morey Way on May 12, according to the Gilroy Police Department.
Ruiz did not appear in court Tuesday. His plea hearing was rescheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 7 in Dept. 105 at the South County Courthouse in Morgan Hill. He is represented by public defender Irma Gallardo.
Ruiz could spend the rest of his life in prison because of California’s Three Strikes Law, as he has four prior felony convictions for assault with a deadly weapon in Santa Clara and Fresno counties dating back to 1978, according to Amy Cornell, spokeswoman for the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.
He is also a registered sex offender, according to the Megan’s Law online database.
His wife, Marcella Ruiz, has said her husband did not assault her and the dog’s death was accidental.
