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Case #8883 Rating: 2.6 out of 5
Pit bull puppy hurled 20 feet into wall
Russellville, AR (US)Incident Date: Friday, Apr 28, 2006
County: Pope
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Donald Washburn
A Russellville man was fined and sentenced Wednesday, June 7, 2006 to serve two days in the Pope County jail after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor animal cruelty charge in District Court.
Donald Washburn, 25, was cited in April after Russellville Police Patrolman Bryce Davenport allegedly witnessed the man hurl a pit bull puppy about 20 feet into the side of a wooden fence in his back yard.
Washburn pleaded innocent to the charge in May and requested a jury trial but changed his plea on June 7.
However, the man did offer District Judge Don Bourne an excuse for his actions.
Washburn said the puppy he was accused of throwing belonged to a relative and began fighting with his four pit bulls as he was attempting to feed the dogs. He said he reached in to separate the dogs, and the puppy bit him. He explained he threw the dog as a reaction to the bite.
According to the police report, the puppy was visibly injured as a result of the blow, and Washburn also argued the statement.
Just after the April 28 incident, Davenport contacted Russellville Animal Control, and Officer Tracy Milsap took custody of the animal at the North Detroit Avenue residence.
Washburn said he still has two dogs, but Bourne warned any other animal-related disturbances would result in the seizure of all of the man's animals.
Also on June 7, Washburn pleaded guilty to possessing a controlled substance, which he was cited for five days after the alleged animal cruelty incident, and was ordered to pay an $800 fine in addition to the $200 fine for cruelty. References
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