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Men Who Slit Dog's Throat In Snapchat Video Won't Get Jail Time
Laughter can be heard in the clip before the dog’s neck is slit with a knife several times.
Two Arkansas men who slit a dog's throat on Snapchat won't serve any jail time for the vicious slaying.
Steven Sadler and Boots Stanley, both of Hamburg, were each sentenced to three years probation Thursday in a Louisiana courtroom, according to KNOE-TV in Monroe, Louisiana. Each must pay a $5,000 fine for murdering the dog in Morehouse Parish, Louisiana in 2016. Both men could be free from probation in a year, as their probation will be reassessed at that time.
Sadler and Stanley pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated animal cruelty on April 19, according to The Monroe News-Star. They initially faced up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine each. District Judge Carl Sharp said his sentencing was based on evidence and the code of criminal procedure.
"Given the inhumane and vicious nature of this crime, the District Attorney’s office requested that the judge impose a severe sentence commensurate with the crime. However, the District Attorney acknowledges that the Court has sole discretion in sentencing,” District Attorney Steve Tew said in a statement.
The video, shot by Stanley, showed Sadler slitting a pit bull’s throat, The Associated Press reported.
The dog was on the back of a horse, struggling to hold on. Laughter can be heard in the clip before the dog’s neck is slit with a knife several times. Stanley posted the video to Snapchat. The killing appeared to be for revenge; Stanely reportedly accused the dog's owner of wronging him, according to the News-Star.
Animal activists were outraged that Sadler and Stanley will not spend a day in prison for the demented killing.
Doll Stanley, director of the Justice for Animals Campaign for In Defense of Animals wasn’t pleased with this week’s sentencing.
“I've literally had hundreds of investigations on cruelty cases,” she told The Monroe News-Star. “I can't even tell you how many times I've been to court. Sometimes you are disappointed. Sometimes even though it seems like it's not much, the judge really did the best they could do. This today is just a very, very sad day for me."
[Photos: Morehouse Parish Sheriff’s Department]
