FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Erin Maloney, Communications Director
Office of the State Attorney, 13th Judicial Circuit
(813) 557-3366 | Erin.Maloney@sao13th.com
TAMPA, FL (May 10, 2024) — The 25-year-old woman who was caught on camera brutally beating her boyfriend’s family dog with a mallet was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months in Florida State Prison. Elizabeth Jaimes was charged with four counts of aggravated cruelty to animals with a weapon, and six counts of aggravated cruelty to animals (torture or torment.)
In August of 2022, Jaimes moved into a Tampa home with her boyfriend, his mother, and a Husky named Maya. When Maya’s owner started to notice unexplained cuts on her head and realized the dog was having trouble walking, her veterinarian suggested setting up a hidden camera. Two days later, video revealed Jaimes hitting Maya 38 times with a rubber mallet and beating and kicking her another 26 times while restraining the dog on a leash.
The beatings, which X-rays revealed were caused over a period of weeks, led to multiple fractures to Maya’s eye sockets, cheekbones, spine, and ribs. At one point, Maya was blind in one eye from the blunt force trauma she endured. Animal control investigators said it was a miracle Maya survived her extensive injuries.
“We’ll never understand how this defendant could ruthlessly beat any animal, let alone a gentle soul like Maya. I thank Maya’s owners for being her voice and testifying in court today to ensure this defendant will be held accountable for her horrific actions. A prison sentence sends a strong message that we do not tolerate animal cruelty in Hillsborough County,” said State Attorney Suzy Lopez.
Jaimes made an open plea to the court which means the judge was responsible for determining the length of the sentence. Jaimes apologized to Maya’s owners in open court before telling the judge she understood why she was going to prison. Following her prison sentence, Jaimes must serve three years of probation and take anger management classes. She is not allowed to own an animal and will be added to Hillsborough County’s Animal Abuser Registry.
State Attorney Lopez leads a team of talented prosecutors and professional staff who are responsible for all criminal prosecutions in the 13th Judicial Circuit. The State Attorney’s Office is committed to keeping the public informed about the outcomes of major court cases to ensure transparency and accountability. We believe it is of utmost importance for the public to understand how our justice system operates in order to build trust. To learn more about the outcome of cases prosecuted in our office, you can follow us on social media:
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