http://www.ktla.com/videobeta/?watchId=91c71636-f291-48ed-96e2-79779f4f3512

JUSTICE FOR KARLEY!
GLYNN JOHNSON CONVICTED, JANUARY 26, 2010
OF FELONY ANIMAL CRUELTY!

Los Angeles Assistant Fire Chief Glynn Johnson was found guilty of felony animal cruelty with special circumstances, (maximum penalty of up to 3 years) and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony (maximum penalty of up to 1 year) on 12:54pm on 1/26/10, after brutally beating to death a 6 month old puppy named Karley, who belonged to Jeff and Shelley Toole of Riverside, CA.

Johnson's sentencing is scheduled for March 8, 2010. He faces up to four years in prison.

On November 3, 2008, Karley had gotten out of the Toole’s backyard, and their neighbor Travis Staggs was bringing her back when Johnson offered to save him the trip and bring her back himself. Staggs testified that he had reservations about leaving Karley with Johnson, but gave him the “benefit of the doubt” and handed her over. Staggs said that he had only taken his eyes off Johnson for a split second when he witnessed the fire chief erupt in violence, punching Karley 10-15 times in the head with his fist. Johnson then used a 12 lb rock to bash Karley’s head another 10-15 times. Staggs said that he even saw Johnson prying open her jaws with his bare hands and broke her jaw. Staggs shouted at Johnson to stop, attempting to pull him off the dog, but Johnson just shoved him away, not even looking at him. A neighbor, Stacey Brown testified that she witnessed Johnson strike Karley in the head 2-3 times with the rock, and ran inside her house and yelled to her husband, “Glynn is beating the crap out of a dog!” Even Johnson’s wife Bonnie told Deputy Sean Conwell that she heard Travis Staggs yell to her husband: “Stop hitting the dog!”

On December 16th, Los Angeles Assistant Fire Chief Glynn Johnson was arrested and charged with two felony counts; felony animal cruelty (maximum penalty of up to 3 years), and conspiracy to commit assault with a deadly weapon (maximum penalty of up to 1 year).

Last Chance for Animals (LCA) and supporters of Karley held a large rally and press conference on December 18, 2008, thanking the District Attorney for bringing charges against Glynn Johnson and asking him to prosecute Johnson to the fullest extent possible by law. LCA also asked L.A. Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman to fire Johnson and to severely restrict his retirement pension. LCA felt strongly that Johnson should be fired and put behind bars for his barbaric act of cruelty.
 

“Without LCA’s involvement, we could not have gone on with this case. LCA has given us the strength to keep going. It was from the demonstrations and vigils that LCA organized that convinced the DA to take this case and prosecute,” said Shelley Toole.

LCA’s President Chris DeRose, with Jeff and Shelley Toole
in front of the Riverside courthouse.

"LCA's dedication to help the Toole's came from not only seeing the horrendous abuse inflicted on Karley but also seeing their tremendous courage and compassion shown by the Toole's in their fight to get Justice for Karley.” We are glad to be a part of putting animal abusers in jail; where they belong." - Chris DeRose, LCA

The trial began on January 6, 2010. District Attorney Will Robinson made his opening statement in front of bloody photos of Karley, telling the judge and jury that Johnson attacked Karley in vengeance, after years of fighting with the Toole family. Over the years, Johnson had engaged in shouting matches with the Toole’s, using a bullhorn, and had placed dog excrement in their mailbox. Robinson said: “This was not an isolated event. There was a long history of anger and frustration beyond the typical neighbor dispute.” Jeff Toole testified: “I feared Glynn Johnson would kill my family.”

The D.A. also questioned Johnson about his violent past. He brought up an incident which is documented in a police report, where Glynn attacked his 14 year old daughter Amber in their backyard, after an argument. Johnson pushed his daughter to the ground, hitting her with the buckle end of his belt, several times. He then dragged his daughter back into the house, where he proceeded to beat her again, shouting at her: “I wish you were dead.”

Fellow firefighters showed up at Glynn Johnson’s trial wearing “firefighters against animal abuse.”

According to defense attorney, John Sweeney, Karley had latched on to his hand, forcing him to beat her repeatedly with a rock. Sweeney said this was clearly a case of self-defense against a vicious animal that nearly severed the fire chief's thumb during an attack. Johnson testified that he only beat the dog with his fist and with a large 12 lb rock because, “I feared for my life.” Johnson also claimed: “I am not stronger than a 6 month old puppy.” Unbelievably, Johnson also asserted that “Karley played dead—she was faking it.”

Sweeney claimed that all the neighbors who saw the beating simply did not witness the dog's attack on Johnson first -- biting his legs, arms and hands and then locking its jaws on his thumb, eventually leaving it dangling by only a thread of skin. KTLA reporter Chris Wolfe has seen pictures of the stitched thumb and it appears that only the very tip of the finger was sliced, and successfully "reattached."

Angela Howard, the first veterinarian to see Karley after the beating, described: “Her right eye was protruding out of her forehead. Her head was indented. She was losing blood in a significant fashion, and her skull was fractured in 3 different places. This was the most severe trauma I have ever seen.” Dr. Howard said that Karley’s injuries were too severe for her to deal with, and sent Karley to specialist, Dr. Sarah Hoggan. Dr. Hoggan only deals with emergency cases. Hoggan was quoted as saying, “Karley’s injuries were more severe than any dog hit by a car I’ve ever seen.” Karley was so severely beaten that she had to be euthanized hours later.

Jeff Toole’s brother, Larry, fought back tears as he told a reporter after a day of testimony that Johnson murdered a family member, and that he should “rot in hell.”

“Who does this to a puppy?” Will Robinson asked the jury in his closing arguments. “She didn’t stand a chance; she was a 24 inch, 40 lb puppy against a 6’1, 225 lb man. She played with 2 year olds.” Robinson continued: “No one, no person or animal deserves to die like she did. She didn’t deserve to be punched, have her jaw broken, and her head bashed in with a rock several times. The defendant was not truthful; he blatantly lied under oath. Firefighters save lives. He took a life. You are not defending yourself when you pound a dog 10-15 times with a rock. Karley was defending herself.” 

LCA would like to thank everyone for their support and compassion in the fight for Justice 4 Karley!!! Stay tuned for future action alerts as your help will be needed to get Karley's law passed, now that Glynn Johnson has been found guilty.

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UPDATE ON THE PRELIMINARY HEARING: 

After two days of the Preliminary Hearing it has been continued to a third day.  
The Hearing will continue on this Friday, May 1st at 10:15am in Dept. 61 at the Riverside County 
Courthouse at 4100 Main Street, Riverside, 92501.  Glynn Johnson will be on the witness stand 
on Friday.  We hope the Preliminary Hearing will conclude Friday with a verdict from the judge 
that the case will be held over for trial.  Below are several links to articles written about the 
Preliminary Hearing.  We appreciate everyone's continued support and hope to see you on Friday.


http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_puppy30.406dd2c.html
 
Neighbors detail fire chief's alleged puppy beating in testimony - Will Bigham, Staff Writer 

We’re determined to make sure that Karley’s death is not in vain.  Not only are we continuing to fight for the prosecution of Glynn Johnson, we are teaming up with ALDF.  February 22-28 is the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s National Justice for Animals Week, which is dedicated to fighting animal abuse and honoring animal victims—like Karley—by pushing for strong laws to protect our animals and tough prosecution of animal abusers. There’s lots of information on the ALDF website, www.aldf.org, guiding animal lovers in how to get involved to stop this kind of terrible cruelty in their own communities. 

Karley’s violent death has outraged people around the country—even around the world. We’re urging people to honor her memory by supporting tough laws protecting animals like our proposed Karley’s Law, which is in the process of being written, and by getting involved in the fight against abuse in their own communities. February 22-28 is the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s National Justice for Animals Week—it’s a perfect time to take a stand to protect animals like Karley—there’s lots of information about how to do so at www.aldf.org. 

We’re working with the Animal Legal Defense Fund during National Justice for Animals Week, Feb 22 – 28, to fight animal abuse and honor animal victims, like Karley. You can join our campaigns, wherever you live, by learning how to get involved at our website www.justice4karley.com and at ALDF’s website, www.aldf.org.

Glynn Johnson has filed a counter suit against the Toole Family

KTLA News

February 12, 2009

RIVERSIDE -- A retired L.A. County assistant fire chief charged with animal cruelty in the beating death of his neighbor's six-month-old puppy is firing back at his accusers.

54-year-old Glynn Johnson has now filed a lawsuit against the owners of the puppy he's accused of killing, claiming the dog attack left him permanently disabled. 

According to the lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, Johnson alleges he suffered physical and emotional trauma as a result of the "dog's brutal attack."

Johnson has pleaded not guilty to animal cruelty, with sentence-enhancing allegations of using a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony in connection with the Nov. 3 beating.

Johnson, who retired from the fire department two weeks ago, remains free on $10,000 bail.

He's scheduled to return to Riverside County Superior Court for a felony settlement conference Feb. 20.

Johnson maintains he was attacked by the dog and hit it only to defend himself.

http://cbs2.com/local/Glynn.Johnson.dog.2.907745.html

www.pe.com

www.thepetshow.com

Los Angeles KRLA 870am
San Bernardino and Riverside KTIE 590am

Please go to www.thepetshow.com for more information on the story

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