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LOGAN — A former Cache County sheriff's deputy has pleaded guilty to animal cruelty in the death of his police K-9, Endy, who died in July after being left in a hot patrol car.
Jason Whittier, 36, pleaded guilty Oct. 2 to aggravated cruelty of an animal, a class B misdemeanor, according to court records.
The charge was filed against Whittier in July after investigators said the dog in his care was left in the back of a police patrol vehicle in direct sunlight for nearly 12 hours while his handler went to a family function.
According to charging documents filed in 1st District Court, Whittier and Endy, an 8-year-old Belgian Malinois, returned to Whittier's home about noon after work on July 3.
Whittier parked his truck in an area where there was "limited to no shade and was subject to direct sunlight during most of the day," charges state, then went inside his house to get ready for family activities that were planned that day, "inexplicably leaving Endy in his patrol truck."
The temperature in Cache County that day was about 94 degrees.
When Whittier returned home about 11:30 p.m. and did not find Endy in his kennel, he went to his truck, where he found the dog deceased, according to the charges.
When the charges were filed, Cache County Sheriff Chad Jensen blamed Endy's death on "distraction."
Related:
Cache County files criminal charges in death of police K-9
The Cache County Attorney's Office filed criminal charges against a deputy with the county sheriff's office Wednesday in connection with the death of police K-9 Endy.Following the K-9's death, the sheriff's office reported that Whittier was placed on leave without pay and reassigned to a different division. A human resources representative confirmed he was fired Aug. 18.
The conviction carries a potential sentence of up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. Plea documents filed in the case do not reference any agreements regarding the sentence, and a presentence report has been ordered.
Whittier is set to be sentenced Nov. 13.
Endy first started working with the Logan Police Department in 2010. In 2016, the dog was sold to the Cache County Sheriff's Office after his handler was involved in a serious traffic accident. Whittier became Endy's handler at that point.
