Chester Man Pleads Not Guilty to Shooting Neighbor’s Dog
The Chester Township man accused of shooting his neighbor’s dog last month made his initial appearance in court Feb. 10.
The Chester Township man accused of shooting his neighbor’s dog last month made his initial appearance in court Feb. 10.
Dennis Dudich, 68, of Bentbrook Drive, appeared before Geauga County Common Pleas Court Judge Forrest Burt and entered a plea of not guilty to charges of animal cruelty concerning a companion animal, a fifth-degree felony, and discharge of a firearm on or near prohibited premises, a fourth-degree misdemeanor.
He showed up in court without a lawyer, which Burt called a mistake.
“I understand that you’ve told the court’s bailiff that attorneys told you that you should come here without an attorney,” Burt told Dudich. “That was bad advice quite frankly.”
Dudich faces six to 12 months in prison and a $2,500 fine if convicted of animal cruelty. The court also could order a mental health evaluation.
If convicted on the discharge of firearm charge, he faces a maximum of 30 days in jail and a $250 fine.
Dudich was released on a personal recognizance bond and his case was assigned to Burt’s courtroom for future proceedings.
Dudich is accused of shooting a neighbor’s 3-year-old English Bulldog, named Zoey, in an adjoining neighbor’s backyard on Jan. 21.
Zoey was euthanized the next day after it was determined one of the bullets had severed her spinal cord and she likely would never walk again.
Zoey’s owner, Marcus Yagour, who lives with his parents, Mark and Peggy, two houses to the east of Dudich’s home, said Dudich shot the 65-pound Zoey because he believed she was a white cat that had been leaving muddy paw prints on his deck.
Marcus said police told him Dudich shot her with a .22-caliber rifle, equipped with a magnified scope, from at least 50 yards.
Following Dudich’s arraignment, Peggy Yagour said she hoped her neighbor gets the maximum sentence.
“I hope he loses his guns. He has no right to own guns,” she said. “I hope he becomes a felon. And if he has to do jail time, so be it.”
Dudich is the first Geauga County resident to be charged under Goddard’s Law, also known as House Bill 60, which makes knowingly causing serious physical harm to a companion animal a felony.
The bill, which became law in September 2016, is named after Dick Goddard, a long-time WJW Channel 8 weatherman and animal activist.
