The dog was beaten so severely its jaw was nearly severed.
Rockford, an abused pit-bull puppy, was discovered by employees at Absolute Auto in Fulton.Syracuse, NY -- A Syracuse man admitted in Onondaga County Court today that he beat a pit-bull puppy so severely that it nearly severed the animal's jaw.
Reginald Stepp, 35, of Milton Avenue, pleaded guilty before Judge William Walsh to a single felony count of aggravated cruelty to an animal.
The charge stemmed from a June 25 incident in which the eight-month-old puppy was beaten so severely in the face that its jaw was left hanging by the skin.
Stepp initially balked at admitting those facts as spelled out by Walsh in court. That prompted the judge to ask bluntly if Stepp had punched the dog in the face and broken its jaw.
Stepp said that he did.
Walsh promised Stepp a sentence of six months in the Onondaga County Correctional Facility. He could have faced a maximum penalty of two years in jail.
Authorities said the injured puppy was discovered by employees at an auto shop in Fulton when Stepp came in to get new wheels. Officials said the employees noticed the badly injured puppy in the customer's van and called police and animal control officials.
Walsh set sentencing for Nov. 9. Stepp is being held in jail without bail until then.