Man admits to killing family dog
BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. » A Clifton Park man Monday pleaded guilty in Saratoga County Court to a charge of aggravated cruelty to animals admitting he killed a companion dog in a sadistic manner for no apparent reason.
Hank D. Smith, 27, made the admission before Saratoga County Court Judge James A. Murphy III. The act of killing a domestic pet is a violation of the state Agriculture and Markets Law, better known as Buster’s Lae, and is a class E felony.
Smith is scheduled to be sentenced at 9:30 a.m. May 30 in county court in Ballston Spa. He is expected to receive two years in prison the maximum allowed by the statute.
Smith admitted to the judge that on Oct. 14 he intentionally killed a miniature Pinscher named Nicholas with aggravated cruelty. An investigation by the New York State Police revealed the dog belonged to a member of his girlfriend’s family.
According to the Saratoga County District Attorney’s office Smith admitted in court that without any justifiable purpose that he, “intentionally killed a companion animal with aggravated cruelty, meaning conduct
which was intended to cause extreme physical pain or conduct which was carried out in an especially depraved or sadistic manner.”
In a statement, Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen said, “This was a terrible case of animal cruelty. The defendant killed this small dog in an especially depraved and sadistic manner. That is why we would not plea bargain this case. Assistant District Attorney Katherine Demartino handled the prosecution of this case and insured today with the defendant’s plea that there is some level of justice for the miniature Pinscher named Nicholas.”