K-9 death: Ex-deputy pleads guilty to animal cruelty

RAYVILLE, La. – A former Louisiana sheriff’s deputy has pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and lying on a police report in the death of his K-9 partner, Deputy Duke. The dog died of heat exposure after being left in the deputy’s patrol car.

The News-Star reports (http://tnsne.ws/29xHiNG ) that John Cummings must pay full restitution of more than $8,000 to cover replacing the K-9.

District Attorney Mack Lancaster says Cummings also received six-month suspended sentences for animal cruelty and criminal mischief by making a false police report as part of Tuesday’s plea.

Cummings resigned as a Richland Parish Sheriff’s deputy a week after the dog’s death on June 1. Sheriff Lee Harrell said he initially reported the K-9 missing and claimed Duke’s kennel had been tampered with.

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Information from: The News-Star, http://www.thenewsstar.com

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