The Virginian-Pilot
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CHESAPEAKE
A Deep Creek man was sentenced Tuesday to 12 months in jail for killing his pit bull with a sword last summer.
Circuit Court Judge Bruce Kushner sentenced Robert Allen Young Jr. to a total of five years in prison, suspending all but 12 months. Kushner also ordered Young to serve supervised probation and to stay away from alcohol and illegal substances.
Young, a former resident of the 2600 block of Darley Lane, pleaded guilty in September to one count of animal cruelty for stabbing his dog on Sept. 7. Young, 46, a husband and father of two, had nothing to say at his sentencing.
Neighbors reported seeing Young gesturing to the dog with the sword outside his home at Chesapeake Mobile Home Park, a community off Deep Creek Boulevard near the Portsmouth line. Police said Young went inside his home with the dog and returned several minutes later with its body that Sunday evening.
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Amy James said in court that Young was intoxicated and stabbed the dog, claiming self-defense. Circumstantial evidence did not suggest the animal had turned on its owner, James said.
Deputy Public Defender A. Robinson Winn said his client was "highly intoxicated" at the time of the crime and that there was nothing he could say to mitigate the stabbing. After the killing, Young's wife put him out of their home, Winn said.
The dog apparently had lunged at Young before, behavior that made him concerned for the safety of his family, Winn said.
"He said the dog had been aggressive in the past and on this date in question and he killed the dog," Winn said.
Prosecutors said Young had no substantial criminal history. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing in General District Court and the grand jury process to plead guilty.
The judge said he had no objection to the sheriff putting Young on work release.
John Hopkins, (757) 222-5221, john.hopkins@pilotonline.com
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