A Hillsborough County jury found 28-year-old Noriega Thompson Jr. guilty of felony aggravated animal cruelty in the starvation death of his Doberman Pinscher, Tiny, and he was taken into custody immediately after the verdict was read. Thompson had previously pleaded not guilty and was out on bond while the case moved through the 13th Judicial Circuit.
According to WFLA, the investigation began in January 2026 after a neighbor reported seeing a badly emaciated dog tied to a leash attached to a concrete slab. Detectives who responded said they could see Tiny’s ribs and spine from a distance, the station reported. A forensic veterinarian later testified that Tiny died of starvation after months of malnutrition.
What the Necropsy Found
The physical evidence presented at trial was stark. Per the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office 13th Judicial Circuit, a forensic veterinary necropsy determined Tiny had zero body fat remaining and had ingested dirt, leaves, grass, and pebbles out of severe hunger before he died. WFLA’s report similarly noted that dirt, leaves, grass and pebbles were found in Tiny’s stomach and rectum, evidence prosecutors used to illustrate the extent of the dog’s suffering in the months leading up to his death.
The case was tried in Courtroom 54S at the Hillsborough County Courthouse in Tampa, with Assistant State Attorneys Mackenzie Vojtko and Christina Sabella prosecuting on behalf of the state. Authorities have said Thompson starved Tiny to death, and the state attorney’s office reported that he was taken into custody following the guilty verdict. In a statement, the office wrote that “our office is committed to seeking justice for every victim, including animals, who are among the most vulnerable members of our community.”
Sentencing Looms Under Florida’s Toughened Cruelty Laws
Thompson is expected to be sentenced next week, though it remains unclear what specific sentence Judge Alvarez will impose or whether prosecutors will push for the statutory maximum. Under Florida Statute § 828.12(2), aggravated animal cruelty is a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of as much as $10,000, according to the Florida Senate…