West Fork Man Pleads Guilty To Cruelty Charge For Shooting Dog

FAYETTEVILLE -- A West Fork man pleaded guilty to misdemeanor cruelty to an animal for shooting a dog in the head with an air rifle last summer.

Michael A. Parks, 52, was sentenced in Washington County Circuit Court to one year probation and 30 days community service and was fined $500 and ordered to pay $831 in restitution. Parks was also ordered to complete a psychological evaluation and comply with the recommended treatment plan.

Denis Dean, deputy prosecutor, said a neighbor was riding her horse near Parks' property when her dog went near Parks' fenced backyard. Parks was in the yard when he took what Dean described as a high-powered air rifle, leaned over the fence and shot the dog. The dog was injured, but the wound was not life-threatening, Dean said.

"Mr. Parks felt it was OK to shoot any dog that came on his place whether it was threatening him or not," Dean said. "I think he learned a valuable lesson."

The case was in Circuit Court after Parks appealed his conviction from West Fork District Court.

A felony aggravated cruelty to animals charge against Parks was dropped because the state would have had to prove torture was involved, Dean said.

NW News on 02/28/2014

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