SAN ANTONIO — A man convicted of killing a Texas deputy’s police K-9 was sentenced to three life terms in prison on Friday.
Matthew Reyes Mireles, 42, was found guilty in December of eight counts of aggravated assault of a public servant, interference with a police service animal, and evading arrest and detention, the San Antonio Express-News reported.
Mireles was convicted of shooting Chucky, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois that was part of the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, on Jan. 25, 2019, according to WOAI-TV.
Matthew Reyes Mireles has been sentenced to the max sentence of life in prison for fatally shooting the 5-year-old Belgian Malinois police K-9, Chucky.https://t.co/MGwlCVVWIS
— News 4 San Antonio (@News4SA) March 24, 2023
Chucky received full honors at his funeral, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar told the television station.
Police attempted to conduct a traffic stop and arrest Mireles in 2019 on several outstanding warrants, the Express-News reported. Authorities said that Mireles shot at officers as he led them on a chase through Karnes, Wilson and Bexar counties, according to the newspaper. According to deputies, Mireles documented the chase on Facebook Live.
After fleeing on foot in Bexar County, Mireles allegedly fired several shots at officers and also at Chucky, who police deployed in an attempt to subdue him, KSAT-TV reported.
The dog was not wearing a protective vest and was shot a near-point-blank range, the Express-News reported. Chucky still bit Mireles and held on, but was killed when he was shot a second time. Deputies shot and wounded Mireles, according to the newspaper.
Because Mireles had nine prior felony convictions, he was sentenced as a habitual offender, according to the Express-News.
Mireles could have been sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison, but the judge sentenced him to three maximum life sentences that will run concurrently.
“Justice does not tolerate those who endanger others, show no respect for the lives of our citizens, and habitually commit crime after crime,” Bexar County District Attorney Joe D. Gonzales said in a statement.
