California Man Accused of Beating Dog to Death With Hammer Could Get Life in Prison

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The fate of a California man accused of beating a dog to death with a hammer is now in the hands of a jury.

After two weeks of testimony, jurors began deliberating Thursday felony animal cruelty charges against Alex Castro.

Castro is accused of killing his girlfriend's cocker spaniel with a ball-peen hammer in 2007.

Because he has previous felony convictions, prosecutors say if the 48-year-old Castro is convicted again he could be sentenced to life in prison under the state's three-strikes law.

Castro is also facing separate charges he tried to get members of a motorcycle club to prevent a key witness from testifying.