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SALT LAKE CITY — A Salt Lake man was sentenced to a year in jail Friday for violent attacks on what a judge called "the most vulnerable of victims," his girlfriend's 3-month-old puppy.
Third District Judge Katie Bernards-Goodman rejected the man's explanation that he "spanked" the puppy for 30 minutes in an unfortunate moment of frustration, reading a list of the animal's injuries from court documents.
Over a series of beatings, the small border collie suffered a fractured jaw, missing teeth, tears to its liver, extensive bruising between the eyes and extending back toward its spine, plus corneal damage from being sprayed in the face with Lysol, according to prosecutors.
A veterinarian determined Moose died of "severe pulmonary hemorrhage" from at least two episodes of blunt force trauma, charging documents state.
"To me, a dog is like a mentally challenged child, the most vulnerable of victims," Bernards-Goodman said.
Mikah Johnson, 20, was sentenced Friday to a year in jail with credit for time served, after the judge voiced concern that if she sent him to prison, a parole board might look at the eight months he has already spent behind bars and decide to release him.
Upon his release, Johnson will spend 36 months on probation, during which time he is to have no contact with animals or with children under age 18 and must also complete 200 hours of community service.
Johnson pleaded guilty in August to two counts of torture of a companion animal, a third-degree felony. An additional charge of torturing a companion animal was dismissed as part of the plea deal, along with four class B misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty.
Johnson also admitted to assault, a class B misdemeanor, for shoving his girlfriend into a wall during an argument.
Jordan Fletcher, Moose's owner and Johnson's former girlfriend, struggled to speak Friday as she addressed the judge, asking that Johnson never be allowed to hurt an animal or a human again.
"Moose and I had a very special relationship, he was truly my best friend," Fletcher said. "We became so close because we were all each other had at this time. Maybe only dog lovers will be able to relate, but Moose was more like my child."
Fletcher described months of nightmares, depression and health problems after the dog was killed. When she realized what was happening, the woman said, she was "terrified to be in the same room as the defendant."
Bernards-Goodman voiced concern that Johnson may have abused Moose as a way to frighten Fletcher, saying it was "scary behavior."
Johnson spoke briefly at the hearing, saying he lives daily with the knowledge of what he did to Moose. He asked to be given a chance to move forward to prove that he can be redeemed.
"I messed up, I made a mistake in a moment of frustration," Johnson said. "All I'm asking for is a chance to prove I'm not what everyone has made me out to be."
Johnson's attorney, David Irvine, filed a motion prior to the hearing outlining Johnson's hope to again pursue the goals he had before his arrest of completing college and becoming a Marine pilot.
Irvine noted that Johnson would have to receive his degree and be accepted to the program before he turns 26. He asked that Johnson's felony convictions be entered as class A misdemeanors at the time of sentencing rather than be reduced after he completes probation. Alternatively, he requested that Johnson only be required to complete eight months of probation rather than 36.
Prosecutor Andrew Deesing opposed shortened probation or a reduction for Johnson, telling the judge he was concerned by Johnson's attitude toward the case as little more than a barrier to his own goals.
"This is one of the most heartbreaking cases I have ever seen," Deesing said. "(Johnson's) tenor of this is, 'This is no big deal, this is just an animal.'"
The case has drawn wide attention online, with dozens of letters being submitted to the judge from around the country. Several people said they feared Johnson would go on to harm people if released. Others talked about their relationships with their own pets as they expressed outrage over Moose's death.
Richard Russell, who has followed the case since reading about the charges against Johnson in the newspaper, got up early to come to Friday's sentencing. Russell said he has been a dog lover all his life.
"It really bothered me," Russell said, becoming emotional. "At least this sends a message to the community that you can't torture defenseless little puppies. It's just wrong."
Deesing pointed to a petition on the website Change.org that had collected more than 21,000 signatures from all 50 states and 70 countries around the world as shocking details of Johnson's case became known.
"This is an attack on innocence," Deesing said. "This is a complete failure to take care of something that can't take care of itself."
A new petition was launched Friday by the online group Justice for Moose, asking that Johnson not be allowed to reduce his felony convictions to misdemeanors once he completes probation.
Gene Baierschmidt, executive director of the Humane Society of Utah, called the case a success under Henry's Law, which made abuse of a companion animal a felony in 2008. Baierschmidt said he was shocked at the "savagery" of the attack.
"We think this hopefully will be a deterrent to people that, if they think they can torture a dog or a cat in the state of Utah, they're going to go to jail," Baierschmidt said. "It was so terrible, it made you want to cry when you heard what this poor dog went through."
Baierschmidt said he hopes Johnson receives counseling and can eventually contribute to society.
