Animal abuser in Scottsdale case gets 'harshest penalty possible'

A 37-year-old man has been sentenced for abusing a husky puppy, which was found dead and discarded in a Scottsdale alley, authorities said.

Lester Paul Richmond “received the harshest penalty possible under the law for a first-time offender,” according to a release from the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

Richmond was sentenced to one year in county jail with no credit for days served and three years of supervised probation. The court also made the charge a permanent felony, the release stated.

He is not allowed to own animals of any kind and must complete an online animal cruelty prevention and education program. Richmond must also pay restitution.

Scottsdale police arrested Richmond after the puppy was found in June 2023 in an alley near Miller Road and Latham Street.

Scottsdale police started an investigation on June 27 after the puppy’s body was found by someone walking through the alley, according to an earlier release.

The puppy appeared to have had its mouth taped shut. In the following days, investigators conducted an investigation that included canvassing the neighborhood, interviewing neighbors and looking for surveillance cameras that may have captured the area the puppy was found.

“Scottsdale detectives discovered a surveillance video showing Richmond’s vehicle in the alley during the timeframe the puppy was left there,” according to the earlier release. “They were able to identify him as the registered owner."

After being charged with animal abuse, warrants were issued for Richmond’s arrest on two separate occasions for failing to appear in court, authorities stated in the MCAO release.

MCAO Animal Cruelty detective Heather Krimm and Scottsdale detectives assisted in finding him.

In June, Richmond pleaded guilty to one count of intionally or knowingly subjecting an animal to cruel mistreatment.

“Our detectives never gave up on this case and worked to ensure Richmond would stand before a judge,” Scottsdale Police Chief Jeff Walther said.

Krimm said members of the community and out-of-state law enforcement agencies helped in the search for Richmond.

“Animals are voiceless, and we must step up to be their voice in these cases,” she said.

Statistics show that individuals who abuse animals are more likely to harm people, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said.

“This sentence does more than hold this defendant accountable - it sends a clear message that cruelty to animals will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

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