Deseret News

Tuesday, July 20, 2010 9:18 p.m. MDT

SALT LAKE CITY — Prosecutors say a jailed South Salt Lake man found a unique way to send his wife letters begging her not to testify against him in a domestic violence case: He mailed them to her cat.

Ronald Charles Dallas was arrested in March for investigation of assaulting his wife. According to charges filed Tuesday in 3rd District Court, Dallas mailed 11 letters intended for his wife to her neighbor and to her cat, named Molly Judge.

Dallas, 32, has been ordered to have no contact with his wife, the alleged victim in a domestic violence case against him, the charges state.

In one letter, Dallas wrote: "I'm taking this assault charge to trial on the 30th. I'm scared, but I know deep in my heart that you will not testify against me no matter what, because you told me you wouldn't, but I'm scared that you will because you're mad at me still."

In another letter, Dallas pleads with his wife not to testify against him, according to court documents.

The defendant is charged with 11 counts of violation of a protective order and two counts of tampering with a witness, all third-degree felonies.

— Lana Groves