A 52-year-old Portland man who admitted to police that he raped his fiancee’s dog was sentenced Monday to three years of probation and 60 days in jail -- the most Oregon sentencing guidelines allow.

Multnomah County Circuit Judge Angel Lopez, who is not related to the defendant, told Fidel Lopez that he should understand the law prohibits a tougher sentence for sexually attacking the Lhasa Apso mix.

“If it could have been more, I gladly would have given you more time,” the judge said.

Fidel Lopez pleaded guilty to two felonies: first-degree aggravated animal abuse and sexual assault of an animal. He admitted he victimized the dog to sexually arouse himself.

Fidel Lopez made no statements Monday -- except to say “OK” in response to the judge’s statement that he deserved a longer sentence.

Police learned of the case after Fidel Lopez’s fiancee reported to police that she found her small dog whining and hiding beneath the couch on Nov. 18, 2018. Upon moving the couch to take a look at the dog, she found blood and injuries to the dog’s hind end, according to a probable-cause affidavit.

She took the dog to the DoveLewis emergency hospital, where staff euthanized the dog because of significant internal injuries.

The dog was named Estrella, which means “star” in Spanish.

Estrella’s owner asked that a rape kit be done because Fidel Lopez had expressed an interest in bestiality by exposing his genitals to the dog, bragging about watching another person sexually assault a dog and asking if his fiancee would ever consider getting a dog bigger than a Lhasa Apso mix, according to the affidavit.

DNA evidence linked Fidel Lopez to the crime, investigators say.

According to the affidavit, he told police that he had sex with the dog while in bed with her, after becoming frustrated that the dog’s owner -- who was his fiancee of 2 ½ years -- didn’t return home the previous night or answer his phone calls. He told police the dog seemed fine. He said he had been drinking.

Court records state that Fidel Lopez had no prior criminal history. His defense attorney, Joe Calhoun, said his client had worked at the same place for 22 years. Court records state that Fidel Lopez worked at a pancake restaurant and had a sixth grade education.

“He’s told me that he’s owning up to a mistake he made and accepts that responsibility,” Calhoun said.

The dog’s owner didn’t attend the hearing.

Fidel Lopez has been in jail for almost two months since his February arrest, and is expected to be released soon because he’s getting credit for time he’s already served. In addition to his jail sentence, he will be prevented from owning pets for 15 years, must undergo a mental health evaluation and complete a counseling program designed to instill compassion in people who’ve abused animals.

He also must pay Estrella’s owner $500.

“The torture and abuse that Estrella suffered is unimaginable," said Deputy District Attorney Nicole Jergovic, in a news release. Jergovic specializes in prosecuting animal abuse cases for the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office.

"Under Oregon’s current sentencing guidelines, Fidel Lopez is receiving the maximum sentence based on the amount of time he has already served in custody and his lack of criminal history,” Jergovic said.

-- Aimee Green

agreen@oregonian.com

o_aimee

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