Man sentenced to 20 years in ‘Justice for Phoenix’ case for burning, torturing dog
A Nixon man accused of burning and torturing a small dog the community renamed “Phoenix” earlier this year was sentenced Tuesday, Oct. 15, to a maximum of 20 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Institutional Division for his actions.
Michael Villanueva, 28, will have to serve a minimum of five years, or one-fourth of his sentence, before he becomes eligible for parole after being sentenced by 25th District Judge William D. Old III.
In addition to a third-degree felony charge of cruelty to non-livestock animals, Villanueva also was facing charges for assault family violence for assaulting a former girlfriend and for failure to register as a sex offender.
Villanueva allegedly doused the dog, originally named “Cutie,” with a flammable accelerant and deliberately set the animal on fire on or around Feb. 7, 2024. The animal suffered extensive burn injuries, including ones from trying to escape the blaze, before it was found on Nixon Power Plant Road (10th Street) by a concerned citizen.
The dog was taken in by Passion for Paws Memorial Animal Shelter, which then got 4 Little Paws Rescue and their director, Ashley Book, involved in helping care for the pup, which was renamed Phoenix. Thousands of dollars were raised locally to help pay for the dog’s medical treatments.
Nixon Police Chief Miguel Cruz Cantu said an extensive investigation yielded information which led to the arrest of Villanueva, who was served with the warrant at the Gonzales County Sheriff’s Office, where he was already awaiting a court date after being arrested Feb. 24 on an “on view” charge of assault of a family or house member impeding breath or circulation.
Phoenix was present with Book and Passion for Paws director and Nixon City Council member Patsy Vigil Scherrer for Villanueva’s sentencing at the Gonzales County Courthouse.
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