A Muncie man convicted of beating a golden retriever to death received a maximum 2-year prison term Monday.
Delaware Circuit Court 5 Judge Wayne Lennington last month found 41-year-old John Ed Fyffe guilty of cruelty to an animal and trespass, both misdemeanors carrying maximum 1-year sentences.
"The point is that this is a person who is dangerous," Lennington said Monday, noting Fyffe had previously been convicted of sexual misconduct with a 13-year-old girl and abducting three other children.
Authorities said the golden retriever, named Sasha, was attacked last June after the canine barked at Fyffe as he walked down an alley behind her family's home, in the 2400 block of South Mulberry Street.
Witnesses said Fyffe threw two rocks at the dog, then entered the family's yard and beat the animal to death with a metal rod. The dog's 9-year-old owner witnessed the attack.
The boy's father testified Monday that his son had been "devastated" by his pet's death.
"He wouldn't go outside for a month," he told Lennington.
Deputy Prosecutor Judi Calhoun said Fyffe's actions were "fairly heinous."
"Some people may laugh that it was just a dog, but your honor, this dog was a member of this family," she told the judge.
Defense attorney Ana Quirk said her client's past record had "nothing to do" with the more recent convictions.
"He's done his time on those cases," said Quirk, who asked that Fyffe be allowed to participate in a work-release program.
Lennington noted that Fyffe was "a registered sex offender." References« Back to Search Results
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