Man sought for animal abuse video turns himself in

ANAHEIM - A 19-year-old man wanted on six counts of animal cruelty and who had a $10,000 warrant out for his arrest – because of a video posted on MySpace that depicts animals being mistreated – turned himself in this morning, authorities said.

The video shows a man swinging a pug by its legs and repeatedly throwing a rabbit several feet in the air, only to let it crash to the ground.

Joseph Anthony Deiss, of Anaheim, walked into the North Justice Center in Fullerton and surrendered to authorities about 9 a.m., said Anaheim police Sgt. Rick Martinez.

Deiss is expected to appear before a judge, who will decide whether to take him into custody or to let him go on his own recognizance and appear in court at a later time.

The charges were filed after a 14-minute video, which authorities allege shows Deiss abusing a pug named Precious and two rabbits, was uncovered last month by representatives of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

The video was reported to the Orange County District Attorney's Office and three misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and three misdemeanor counts of animal abuse by a caretaker, meaning the animals were pets, were filed last week, said Farrah Emami, a spokeswoman for the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

If convicted, Deiss could face a maximum sentence of three years in jail.

"Law enforcement can't be everywhere at once," said Farrah Emami, a spokeswoman for the Orange County District Attorney's Office. "We appreciate when the community or community organizations work as the eyes and the ears for crimes like these and bring them to the attention of law enforcement."

PETA officials sent a letter to Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas expressing outrage at the mistreatment of several rabbits and a dog, and urging prosecutors to seek jail time in the case against Deiss.

PETA is also asking prosecutors ask that Deiss, if convicted of animal cruelty, be banned for life, as allowed by California law, from owning or harboring animals and that authorities seize any animals he currently has.

"The viciousness shown in abusing these animals must not go unpunished," said PETA cruelty caseworker Kristin DeJournett. "Orange County 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 to all animals, including humans."

The video, which officials allege was produced by Deiss, was recorded in the backyard of an acquaintance's home in Yorba Linda and the pug, Precious, belonged to the homeowners, Emami said. The video, which has since been removed from MySpace, was sent by Deiss to at least one friend in July 2007. It shows Deiss naming two small rabbits Peter and Ginger and caressing them, saying "We'll be good friends for ever and ever."

Set to an '80s soundtrack, the video reportedly shows Deiss hurling the rabbits across a back yard, swinging the pug Precious by the legs and then smashing the dog to the ground, and throwing a rabbit about 15 feet over his head and then letting the animal fall to the ground. The video also shows Deiss throwing Precious up in the air, causing the animal to flip over several times before landing, and throwing a ball at two dogs and a rabbit, hitting the rabbit as the animal tried to run for cover.

After several minutes showing the activity in the back yard, a red banner scrolling across the video reads: "It had been a long day and Joey and the bunnies were tired. So Joey found them a cage." The video shows Deiss allegedly putting the rabbit called Ginger in a small cage, but then moving her to a smaller cage, telling her she would be more comfortable. He puts the rabbit in a larger cage and the camera zooms in on a large snake in the cage. The rabbit sits in the corner as the camera follows the snake as it makes its way to the rabbit and grabs it, squeezing the life out of the small animal.

A voice in the background can be heard saying, "Ginger. Oh, no. There's a snake in there. Ginger. What a bummer. I didn't even realize it."

The video zooms in on the eyes of the rabbit in the clutches of the snake.

"And they all lived happily ever after," begins the credits of the video. "No snakes were harmed in the making of the video. Producer Joey Deiss." Editer (sic) Joey Deiss. Fillmed by Joey Deiss. Snakes owned by Joey Deiss. Special thanks to Joey Deiss."

Also mentioned in the credits are special appearances by bunnies Peter and Ginger, Precious the Puppy and snakes Bonny and Clyde.

And according to the credits, the production was the work of the "Ideas by Joey Deiss."

Pictures posted on Photobucket, an Internet photo sharing site, show a grinning Deiss holding a small brown rabbit upside down by the back feet. According to Deiss' MySpace profile, "Jo 'E' is bummed that he still might go to prison." Despite a warrant for his arrest, Deiss was online throughout Wednesday night. His MySpace profile shows a picture of Deiss holding a large snake.

Deiss attended Army and Navy Academy, a military preparatory boarding school for middle school through high school boys in Carlsbad. According to his profile on Facebook, Deiss lists among his favorite activities snake hunting, playing piano and keyboard at least four hours a day and "Fire is sometimes fun, if it's HUGE and in moderation."

Among one of the posts on his Facebook page is "I admit I am a pyro … now can I have my matches and lighter fluid back?"

"Mental health professionals and top law enforcement officials consider cruelty to animals to be a red flag," DeJournett wrote in her letter to the District Attorney's Office. "The American Psychiatric Association identifies cruelty to animals as one of the diagnostic criteria for conduct disorders, and the FBI uses reports of these crimes 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."

Dogs help church get its message out

Mariners Church of Irvine uses its canine ministry in social situations to break the ice and bring some people to God.

The dogs were decked out in sweaters and birthday hats. They had cold snouts, soft coats and the dispositions of Job. For more than an hour on a recent Saturday, they sat beneficently as dozens of children petted them.

They are members of the canine ministry at Irvine's Mariners Church, which organizers say may be one of a kind.

Its mission: to put people at ease and begin a process that could lead them to God.

"They are able to break down walls that we often can't," said Sheree King, a Mariners outreach director.

"The dogs facilitate relationships. They start a conversation" ultimately enabling church members to make their pitch.

The program began eight years ago when Paul Bogenrief, now 60, visited the church Sunday school with Sadie III, his golden retriever. Some of the small children found the dog's presence comforting, so he started taking her there every week.

The dog ministry expanded to other places. Today, program coordinator Janene Bankson says, it consists of eight dogs, most owned by church members.

Much of the dogs' work involves going to monthly birthday parties for poor residents at the Costa Mesa Motor Inn.

They also help with foster kids, preside over learning programs in which children are more comfortable reading to the dogs than to adults and act as canine comfort counselors at church mountain camps.

"They show unconditional love and don't expect anything back," said Bankson, whose 2-year-old black Labrador retriever Reyna is a ministry dog. "They are always happy and don't see any difference between us. They bring people in."

That certainly seemed to be happening at the motel party where, despite multicolored balloons, face-painting, cupcakes and pizza, the dogs were the centers of attention.

Attended largely by the poor families comprising the bulk of the inn's clientele, the parties mark the birthdays of residents who can't celebrate on their own.

But they have another purpose as well, King said; they pave the way for a walk toward the Lord. "We try to meet the families where they are," she said.

For Jessica Eden, a 16-year-old who has lived at the motel for two years, that meant recalling a time when she had pets of her own.

"I love them," she said of the Mariner dogs. "The little kids need to show affection, they need to pet these dogs."

Amanda Santiago, whose 8-year-old daughter, Michelle, couldn't leave the dogs alone, said she too appreciated the distraction.

"A lot of us are here because of hardship and can't afford to do lots of things."

The visit of the dog ministers, she said, "is a good thing for the kids. It gives them a bit of normalcy that we can't provide."

Program organizers say it's all a soft sell.

Though they don't discuss Jesus unless they are asked, church members know that the dogs often make people more comfortable.

"The kids will cuddle them when they're nervous," King said, "and when they're scared or sad, the dogs comfort them. Residents ask us what we're doing, and sometimes they tell their stories."

In the ensuing talks, she said, members of the nondenominational Christian church share their faith.

Before participating in the ministry, according to Bankson, the animals are tested for temperament, obedience and health. They also are trained to stay calm.

But are the dogs Christian?

"I don't know," Bankson said, "but they sure show an awful lot of love. They have some of the Christian characteristics I'd like to have."

Bogenrief agrees. "They don't drink, smoke, dance or dress inappropriately," he pointed out.

"The only thing they do, if given the chance, is have sex out of wedlock." Roy Gerber, 42, says he relishes the outings with Ziba, his 4-year-old female retriever.

"Serving with my dog is awesome," he said.

"I love serving and I love being with my dog; this way I can enjoy the two."

He has no doubts regarding Ziba's religion.

"If you spell dog backward," he said, "you get God."

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