Man who left Kona in hot car pleads guilty

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The man accused of stealing a car with a dog inside and then leaving the dog inside has taken a plea deal, according to court records.

Francisco Vincent Gonzalez will be sentenced on Nov. 7.

Records show that Gonzalez pled guilty on Monday to charges of first-degree theft, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, first-degree animal abuse, possession of meth, possession of a stolen vehicle, second-degree animal abuse, second-degree animal neglect and animal abandonment. He also pled no contest to one count of ID theft.

Gonzalez was arrested in April after police say he stole a vehicle in Southeast Portland. Inside that vehicle was a dog named “Kona.”

Neighbors found Kona’s remains inside the abandoned vehicle.

Police say that Gonzalez eventually confessed to stealing the vehicle and abandoning the car with Kona still inside. Gonzalez has been the subject of federal prosecution for immigration offenses.