Dog smashed against wall and floor, dies Boonton Township, NJ (US)Incident Date: Sunday, Jun 6, 2010 County: Morris
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Donovan 'Donny' Allieri
A former Mountain Lakes High School football star was indicted today on charges of conspiring with his now-ex-girlfriend to steal her mother's jewelry and, on his own, killing the family's miniature dachshund.
A Morris County grand jury handed up an indictment that charges Boonton Township resident Donovan ''Donny'' Allieri, 18, with burglary, animal cruelty, using a juvenile to commit a crime, conspiracy to commit theft, theft, and receiving stolen property.
According to court records, Allieri was given permission by a Superior Court judge to leave the state in late September to attend a substance abuse program in Pennsylvania. He has signed a deal to play football for Villanova University but plans to first complete a prep school program in Connecticut.
The indictment charges Allieri with entering a Boonton Township home this past June 6 and purposely and knowingly killing a household animal. Authorities have previously said that Allieri allegedly smashed Pepper, his ex-girlfriend's family pet, a 9-pound dachshund, against the wall and floor.
The indictment also charges that on unspecified dates in June, Allieri used a juvenile to help swipe jewelry from the home. Lawyers involved in the case have said that Allieri allegedly joined with the teenage ex-girlfriend -- who faces family court charges as a juvenile -- in stealing $8,775 worth of jewelry from her mother.
Allieri's defense lawyer, Marcy McMann, has denied that her client injured or caused Pepper's death or broke into the home. McMann has questioned how animal cruelty could be proven since the homeowners found Pepper dead on June 6 and disposed of it. They did not bring the dog's death to the attention of police until the end of June when the burglary investigation was launched, McMann has said. References |