Judge Yvette Verastegui handed down sentences that do not meet the gravity of violence inflicted in a case that shocked Angelenos. A 7-month-old puppy was kicked and thrown down a multi-story stairwell, an attack seen in widely circulated social media videos. Despite a strong case and the prosecutor’s readiness to go to trial, the judge accepted open pleas and delivered outcomes that undercut accountability and public safety.

Joeboury Coleman received two years in state prison, with 397 days credited as time served. Shayla Alcala had two felony counts for failing to provide veterinary care to a cat, reduced to misdemeanors, and received one year of summary probation, search and seizure terms, 24 animal-cruelty classes, and 24 individual counseling sessions. These decisions came over the objection of Deputy District Attorney Michael Belcher, who was prepared to proceed to trial, a path that could have produced a stronger sentence and clearer deterrent.

Los Angeles needs judges who treat animal cruelty as the violent offense it is. Reducing felonies to misdemeanors and minimizing incarceration signals tolerance for abuse. It ignores the well-documented link between cruelty to animals and other violence, and it fails the many survivors, humans and other animals, who live with the consequences.

On July 7, 2024, Los Angeles Police Department officers acted after social media videos showed a dog being abused, including being kicked and thrown from a multi-story stairway by a male individual. Officers located the puppy and took her to North Central Animal Shelter, where she was treated for a broken hind leg and poor nutrition. She has since been adopted by a loving guardian. A second dog and a cat were also removed from the apartment.

In Defense of Animals mobilized public support for a strong conviction and meaningful penalties. We delivered a letter to Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, signed by 12,113 supporters, urging prosecution, appropriate incarceration, and mandatory mental health intervention. The court’s decisions disregarded those community standards.

Here is the most effective single action you can take right now. File a written complaint with the California Commission on Judicial Performance using the online complaint form:

https://cjp.ca.gov/online-complaint-form/

Disagreement with a sentence alone is not misconduct. This is the official channel for concerns about a judge’s behavior. If you prefer mail, write to Commission on Judicial Performance, 455 Golden Gate Ave., Suite 14400, San Francisco, CA 94102. 

Phone for information only: 415-557-1200.

Use this concise, copy-ready guidance for key fields on the form:

• Judge’s full name: Yvette Verastegui
• Court level: Superior Court
• County: Los Angeles County
• Case type: Criminal
• Case name: People of the State of California v. Joeboury Coleman
• Case number: Unknown if you do not have it
• Your relationship to the case: Concerned member of the public
• Date of conduct: October 7, 2025

Paste this into the Description of conduct box and edit if you attended or have first-hand observations:

On October 7, 2025, Judge Yvette Verastegui accepted open pleas from defendants Joeboury Coleman and Shayla Alcala in an animal-cruelty matter and imposed sentences that did not reflect the severity of the offenses or public-safety concerns. Over the objection of the assigned prosecutor, who indicated readiness for trial, the court sentenced Mr. Coleman to two years in state prison with 397 days' credit for time served and reduced Ms. Alcala’s two felony counts for failure to provide veterinary care to misdemeanors, imposing one year of summary probation with classes and counseling.

I understand that disagreement with a sentencing choice is not itself misconduct. I am reporting concerns about judicial performance and explanation on the record, including: lack of clear reasoning for reducing felony charges given documented harm, and insufficient discussion of public-safety risks associated with violence against animals. I request a review for compliance with the California Code of Judicial Ethics regarding transparency, impartiality, and promoting public confidence.

Attach only lawful, non-graphic materials if you have them, such as court minutes, docket printouts, or verified news reports. Keep your submission factual and civil. 

Your advocacy matters. If you cannot give right now, signing and sharing our alerts and petitions is incredibly impactful, and we are grateful for every action you take for animals.