Key Points
- A Bellevue senior citizen, Cliff Shepoka, is still waiting for court-ordered restitution six years after a neighbor’s dog attack.
- The attack happened in 2020 and left bite wounds that have since healed.
- Jesus Valles was convicted of multiple Bellevue animal code violations, including harboring a dangerous dog.
- The court ordered Valles to pay Shepoka more than $4,000 for medical costs.
- Court records show Valles has paid $305 over six years.
- Valles missed his eighth court appearance last week, and a warrant has now been issued for his arrest.
- Bellevue City Attorney Aimee Bataillion said the court has run out of patience and wants Valles to explain why he has not paid.
- If Valles is arrested and posts bond, the city said it will ask that the bond money be given to the victim.
- Shepoka says the case is about accountability, not only money.
- Shepoka’s wife, Kathie Shepoka, said jail time would likely help force responsibility and reform.
- The dog that attacked Shepoka in 2020 was euthanized.
Bellevue, Neb. (King County Insider) July 9, 2026 – A long-running restitution case tied to a 2020 dog attack in Bellevue has escalated after the pet owner failed to appear in court again, prompting a warrant for his arrest, according to reporting by WOWT. As reported by WOWT, the victim, Cliff Shepoka, is still waiting to recover the money a court ordered Jesus Valles to pay after a dog attack that left him with injuries that have since healed.
What happened in the attack?
The attack dates back to 2020, when a neighbor’s dog bit Cliff Shepoka and caused wounds that later healed, according to WOWT’s report. The case later led to convictions for multiple Bellevue animal code violations, including harboring a dangerous dog, and those findings formed the basis for restitution. WOWT reported that the court ordered Valles to pay Shepoka more than $4,000 in medical costs.
As reported by WOWT, Shepoka said the situation has become frustrating because the legal obligation has not been met despite years passing. He said, “I just figured he’s just sticking his nose up to the law because he’s not following the law at all.”
Why was a warrant issued?
WOWT reported that Valles did not show up for his eighth court appearance last week, which led to a warrant for his arrest. Bellevue City Attorney Aimee Bataillion said the court has lost patience with the repeated failures to pay and appear.
As reported by WOWT, Bataillion said, “Given the time involved in this case and the defendant’s failure to pay, I think the warrant shows that the court is upset and saying enough is enough. Please come to court and explain why you can’t pay this victim.”
The city attorney also said that if Valles is arrested and posts bond, the city will ask the court to direct that bond money to the victim. WOWT reported that the Sheriff’s Office is expected to try to locate him.
How much has been paid?
The financial gap in the case remains large. WOWT reported that the original restitution order was for more than $4,000, but six years later Valles has paid only $305. That has kept the matter active long after the dog attack itself.
The delay matters because restitution is supposed to help cover documented medical expenses and show accountability for the harm caused. In this case, the amount paid so far is far below what the court ordered, which is part of why the case has remained in the system.
What are the victims saying?
Shepoka told WOWT that the case is not only about the money but also about responsibility. He said that when someone signs a court paper agreeing to pay and then leaves town or otherwise avoids the order, it means they are avoiding the consequence entirely.
Kathie Shepoka, the victim’s wife, also spoke about the need for consequences. As reported by WOWT, she said, “Jail would probably help him because he needs to be reformed to know about the laws and know that he has to be responsible.”
What else did the report say?
WOWT reported that a text message sent to a cell phone number provided by Valles’ family received a reply saying it was not his number. The station also reported that the dog involved in the 2020 attack was euthanized.
The case illustrates how a relatively local animal-code violation can remain unresolved for years when restitution is not paid and court appearances are missed. It also shows how courts can use arrest warrants and bond conditions to pressure a defendant into compliance.
Background of the development
Dog-attack cases in local courts often involve both criminal or ordinance-level penalties and civil-style restitution for medical costs. In this case, the animal-code violations included harboring a dangerous dog, which made the matter more serious than a routine complaint. WOWT’s report shows that even after the physical injuries heal, the legal and financial consequences can continue for years when restitution is not satisfied.
Restitution is generally used to compensate a victim for documented losses tied to an offense, and courts typically rely on repeated appearances and payment compliance to keep the case moving. When those payments do not arrive, judges and city attorneys may turn to enforcement tools such as warrants, contempt-related proceedings, or bond requests.
Prediction for the audience
For Bellevue residents, the immediate effect is that the case may continue to draw attention to local animal-control enforcement and how seriously the courts treat repeated noncompliance. For victims in similar cases, the development suggests that payment orders can be enforced over time, but recovery may be slow when defendants do not appear voluntarily. For pet owners, the case is a reminder that dangerous-dog violations can carry lasting legal and financial consequences well beyond the original incident.
