Let's hope there is Justice today for Yorkie Abuser

[yorkiemini]

Apparently sentencing has been delayed.

Guy gave N excuse that he tortured and killed the dog because he was taking bath salts

[Buster Brown]

There was a Case Update dated May 30, 2012 He was supposed to be sentenced on July 10, 2012 but I could not find any later updates yet.
Dustin Ricky Harrell pleaded guilty to aggravated animal cruelty in Washington County, TN court today. He admitted to the judge he killed his family's Yorkie last November after nearly four hours of torture.
"I threw it down the stairs, I put it in the washer and dryer, and I held the dog underwater," Harrell told the judge. "I killed and tortured my family dog and I tried to be truthful from the start. I did not want to hide anything your honor. I wanted to come in and tell the truth from the very first time."
During Wednesday's hearing Judge Robert Cupp asked Harrell what possessed him to be so cruel to an animal. Harrell testified he was sexually abused as a child and that his own alcohol and drug abuse played a role.
"That combined with drug and alcohol abuse, it don't mix and it will take you down a long, hard road," Harrell said. "I can tell you what I did with drugs and alcohol, but I have no excuse for it. At the time, I'd done synthetic drugs such as bath salts. I'd done heroin and Oxycodone."
Harrell told the judge he went into a rehab treatment center in January and spent 30 days there. Judge Cupp will sentence the man on July 10.
His sentence could range from one to two years in prison unless the judge decides to grant him judicial diversion. According to Assistant District Attorney Erin McArdle, since Harrell pleaded guilty to the original charge, the judge has more discretion than usual when it comes to sentencing. However, prosecutors say they will push for the maximum sentence.
"The volume of the crime that he committed, aggravated animal cruelty, and the steps that he took to commit that crime, he deserves to be in prison for that," McArdle said.
Animal activists were also on hand for the plea hearing. Seven members of Bridge Home No Kill Animal Rescue told us at the least, they believe Harrell should spend some time behind bars.
"Even if it's half the time it's a good beginning for justice," Bridge Home No Kill Animal Rescue President Regina Isenberg said. "We would love to have the maximum, but we're also content if that's what the judge decides. I hope the young man had learned his lesson and the little treatment he got, I hope it's the beginning and not the end. We're here for justice for Honey and it looks like justice could come."

[msyorktown]

I just re-read this and again i'm in tears...how could anyone do that to any living being???
Sick, just sick...along with a few choice words I cant print here!
I truly hope justice is served for baby Honey and he gets the maximum sentence.
RIP sweet baby, you are now free from any pain..run free at the Rainbow Bridge..

[barkleylove]

I could barely read the article. It makes me sick to think what that poor dog went through. I hope this guy gets the longest sentence possible. Hopefully the judge is a dog lover!

[my2boyz]

From Buster Brown's post:

>>His sentence could range from one to two years in prison unless the judge decides to grant him judicial diversion.<<

1 to 2 years??? Doesn't seem like enough for what that poor little, trusting dog went through.

What does judicial diversion mean?

[yorkietalkjilly]

I read the first few words of his statement and had to close the page! What a monster!!! What an evil creature!!! What kind of a "man" does things like that to a tiny, helpless little dog? I'm constantly at a loss when I hear of new horrors perpetrated on our little dogs. How in the world does he stand himself? Sleep? Look in the mirror? How do you deal with yourself after you've done something inhuman like that to another living being? How can he ever call himself a man, knowing what he did? Shocking, heartless, cruel, beastly. He's a barbarian that should be punished to the full limit of the law and then some. And I wish some big, hulking guy about twice his size would get hold of him and teach him a good lesson about how not to treat a dog!

[CouversMom]

This is just devastating... I cannot imagine how this poor little dog felt in his last few minutes of life I think that animal abuse sentences need to be longer... People get away with doing horrific things to animals, but if they were to do so to a person... they would be in prison for life or get the death sentence. So sad.