A judge has sentenced a Texas man to five years in prison for animal abuse — more than twice the maximum penalty for the crime in the state.
Deric Berquist was caught on home security cameras savagely attacking an 11-week-old-German Shepherd puppy in the home he shared with his then-girlfriend.
The disturbing footage shows Berquist punching and choking the dog before slamming its tiny body onto the ground repeatedly.
Neighbors reported hearing the puppy screaming in pain before she passed out, stated The Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
The puppy, named Nikki, miraculously survived her savage beating in spite of several broken bones. She now has a new home.
Berquist’s former girlfriend turned him into the police following the incident; reportedly, the video depicts him abusing her.
The extended sentence comes as a result of the brutality of this attack, and an alleged history of animal abuse. A witness statement claims that Berquist set a squirrel on fire during his youth.
“This kind of man that can prey on small animals is a different kind of evil,” said prosecutor David Alex. “The level of torture shown in this video is the kind of thing people don’t want to believe really happens.”
While animal cruelty convictions are often woefully inadequate, this is the second sentence we’ve learned of last month that, in fact, exceeded the recommended guidelines.
A Michigan judge recently sentenced a man to three to six years in prison for stabbing his dog to death and leaving the body in a local park — triple the recommended sentence.
We hope these sentences indicate that the tide is starting to turn on animal cruelty, with authorities and judges starting to take cases much more seriously.
The rest of the states should follow by example. Glad the Puppy is better.
All states should be doing this. Glad the puppy is better
Throw him in jail and let him find out what happens to animal abusers in jail.
This evil bastard should have gotten 25 years.
He should have gotten life!!
I’m so pleased that disgraceful man has been sentenced to prison. I believe there’s only one way to put an end to animal cruelty which is as follows: a perpetrator should have a limb (finger) amputated, and if a perpetrator continues their cruel behaviour they keep losing limbs, issued a criminal conviction because let’s face it animal abuses often go on to abusing people and confiscate passport, made to wear an ankle bracelet for five years, report to authorities once a month, made to do community service for 5 years and excluded from any governmental assistance for life. Only when the consequences are so dire will animal cruelty cease to exist!
I wish I could have a few minutes alone with this guy alone and no cameras. What a sick, coward bastard. He deserves to be killed in prison.
Any person that harms an animal deserves the maximum prison sentence. These poor animals don’t have a voice . WE ARE THEIR VOICE!!! Also, the horrible man that killed the family French bulldog should spend at least 10 years in prison & also be beaten and thrown against the wall!!!
He really deserved more.
I hate cops
He didn’t receive severe enough punishment for what he did!!!
FINLLY!!!!! YES YES YES YES YES!!!! FINALLY SOMEONE WHO IS PAID BY TAXPAYER’S AND TAXPAYER’S WHO HAVE BEEN SCREAMING FOR PROSECUTION FOR ANIMAL ABUSE,….FINALLY,……ONE PERSON ACTUALLY LISTENED. YES THIS IS FANTASTIC AND WE GOT TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD TO GET ALL ABUSER’S OF ANIMALS PUT IN JAIL!!!!!! WHERE THEY BELONG AND WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WANT. THANK YOU SO MUCH
Wow! This is disturbing! Hope he will never have the opportunity to own or be near another animal again.
I’d like to give that moron a taste of his own medicine!!!
it is about time the law is doing something against abusers all animal abusers deserve the same treatment as they have given and more. we all are here to live and encourage good life for all.
Best news ever! With a little luck Deric Berquist will be released – in a body bag.
Le’s make sure this has a ripple effect throughout our country.
And let’s make sure this penalty applies to all cases of animal abuse.
Thank God for a Judge with a HEART!!! This poor puppy didn’t deserve any of this!!! They should remove Deric Berquist “parts” so he can’t reproduce!!! Animals are the first step of abuse, the next step is people!!!
May this puppy live a healthy life going forward in a warm and loving home!
Thank you Judge for realizing the seriousness of this crime, and the evilness of this psychopath.
The penalties imposed on both the pieces of sub human scum is only a handslap!!! The 5 years for the one who beat the puppy should spend these 5 years being beaten (maybe the prison community will take care of that)…..and the DEMENTED MURDERER (FROM MY OWN COMMUNITY AND STATE) should experrience the same treatment as he inflicted onb the poor innocent voiceless dog. BOTH DOGS AND ALL OTHERS THAT SUFFER ABUSE, PAIN, TERROR, AND DEATH DID NOTHING TO DESERVE SUCH HORIFFIC ABUSE AND DEATH!!!
There is NO rehab that will work for these sick creeps!!! The first one set a squirrel on fire….then beat a puppy to near death….WILL CHILDREN, WOMEN, NEIGHBORS, OR ANYONE IN THE GENERAL POPULATION BE NEXT????? Unless these sickos are locked away FOREVER, the afore mentioned potential victims are a reality!
Harsh and swift punishment needs to take place in a public forum so other abusers/murderers will think twice before hurting another innocent soul!
The penalties imposed on both the pieces of sub human scum is only a handslap!!! The 5 years for the one who beat the puppy should spend these 5 years being beaten (maybe the prison community will take care of that)…..and the DEMENTED MURDERER (FROM MY OWN COMMUNITY AND STATE) should experrience the same treatment as he inflicted onb the poor innocent voiceless dog. BOTH DOGS AND ALL OTHERS THAT SUFFER ABUSE, PAIN, TERROR, AND DEATH DID NOTHING TO DESERVE SUCH HORIFFIC ABUSE AND DEATH!!!
There is NO rehab that will work for these sick creeps!!! The first one set a squirrel on fire….then beat a puppy to near death….WILL CHILDREN, WOMEN, NEIGHBORS, OR ANYONE IN THE GENERAL POPULATION BE NEXT????? Unless these sickos are locked away FOREVER, the afore mentioned potential victims are a reality!
That cruel, heartless and seriously deranged human excrement deserves the DEATH PENALTY, or at least LIFE IMPRISONMENT !!! Trying to hard or kill any animal should be punished as if the victim were a human. What a beautiful little pup, I just cannot understand how he could do that.
Instigation of the death penalty is essential for this scumbag POS and any other animal abuser.
Deric Berquist definitely deserves an even stiffer sentence with this video evidence, it certainly is not his 1st and the level is waaay, waaay over the top. He has already progressed to abusing humans….certainly excessive to say the least.
Anyone who beats a puppy should be executed. The sentences must fit the crime. Criminals who harm dogs must suffer harsher punishments. 5 years is not enough. He will be free to do the same again. This is not good enough. He should be given a lethal injection, he is an addict. The same as a wife beater or rapist. They are addicted to the high they get from being sadistic and evil. We want these individuals in their coffins, where they belong. These individuals never ever change, they are set personalities and programmed to be brutal and sadistic predators. He will always be a threat to animals this is why he should be executed.
I am so happy this sick evil man gets what he deserves. What a pathetic person to do this to an innocent puppy!!