Teen pleads guilty in bull attacks

Robert Pettyjohn II will be sentenced in December. He still faces charges in the beating of two llamas.

By DAVID KARP

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 30, 2001

TAMPA -- Kay O'Rourke wanted to hear why two teenagers would kill her purebred bull for no reason.

She wanted to see the teenagers on the witness stand, and she wanted to hear prosecutors cross-examine them.

But O'Rourke won't get her chance.

The second of two defendants in a high-profile animal cruelty case pleaded guilty Monday to killing one bull at the Tradition Ranch in Odessa and wounding another with an arrow.

The guilty plea by Robert B. Pettyjohn II, 18, means he won't go to trial on charges of armed trespass, and killing or aggravated abuse of registered cattle. Brandon Eldred, an 18-year-old who helped Pettyjohn, also pleaded guilty earlier this year.

Each could face 15 years in prison for the crimes.

Both teenagers, who lived in East Lake at the time of the crimes, also face charges in the golf-club beating of two pet llamas in northern Pinellas County.

By pleading guilty without striking a deal with prosecutors, Pettyjohn essentially threw himself on the mercy of Circuit Judge Ronald Ficarrotta. The judge will sentence the teenagers separately in December.

Prosecutors plan to ask for prison time.

"This type of conduct generally shows a sociopathic tendency, and these type of people need to be off the street," Hillsborough Assistant State Attorney Robin Fuson said.

Prosecutors haven't decided yet how long a prison term to seek.

Pettyjohn's attorney, Christie Pardo, could not be reached for comment.

O'Rourke, who owns the bulls, said the teenagers should get "the harshest thing the judge can come up with."

"I am afraid they could graduate from animals to people," O'Rourke said. "I feel in many respects these two young kids are terrorists in the animal world, and I think they may become terrorists in the human world."

The bulls who were attacked were gentle creatures, she said. The deceased bull, a solid red purebred, was 3 years old. The wounded bull, who was black, was 4 or 5. He's doing nicely now, O'Rourke said.

The two teenagers also faces charges in Pinellas County for attacking two pet llamas in February, about a month after attacking the bulls.

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