AURORA | A man who investigators say helped distract pet store employees while his accomplice stole English bulldog puppies was sentenced Friday to two years in prison, according to district attorney officials.
Timothy Davis, 39, Denver, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft for his part in a theft at Perfect Pets in Centennial, according to 18th Judicial District spokesperson Eric Ross.
Davis was also sentenced to one year of parole.
Investigators said Davis entered the store in February 2025 separately from an accomplice, later identified as Jonathan Muniz, and asked employees about two English bulldog puppies and their prices.
The puppies were in a locked enclosure. Employees told Davis the puppy containers could not be opened without a photo ID.
Davis then appeared to fall to the ground near the cash register, as if he was having a medical emergency, according to investigators. Employees rushed to help him.
While they were distracted, Muniz removed the locked lid from the puppy enclosure, grabbed both puppies and ran from the store, investigators said.
Detectives said Davis had created the diversion so the puppies could be nabbed, according to Ross. Each puppy was valued at more than $4,000, making the theft a felony. Both puppies were eventually found and returned.
“This wasn’t a spontaneous act. It was a coordinated theft that relied on distracting employees who believed they were helping someone experiencing a medical emergency,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Rebecca Jochum said in a statement. “Mr. Davis played an important role in carrying out that plan, and today he was held accountable for his actions.”
Muniz, 34, was previously convicted of robbery, theft, conspiracy to commit theft and third-degree assault in connection with the case. An employee who tried to stop Muniz from leaving the store was kicked in the face during the struggle, according to the district attorney’s office.
Muniz was sentenced earlier this year to eight years in prison. He’s also consecutively serving a 12-year prison sentence imposed from an unrelated Adams County case. He is not eligible for parole until 2034, officials said.
“Local businesses are working hard to make a living, serve their communities and support their employees,” District Attorney Amy Padden said in a statement. “They should not have to worry about being stolen from or having their employees assaulted while simply trying to do their jobs.”