A Brunswick, Md., man who threw a stranger's teacup Chihuahua off a bridge, apparently to its death, has been sentenced to four months in prison.
A judge suspended a three-year prison term and ordered unemployed cell tower technician David Beers, 35, to pay a $1,000 fine, perform 300 hours of community service and make restitution of $318 to Timothy and Caisha Wantz.
Beers apologized for stealing the dog in a fit of anger after the Wantzes ordered him off their property in rural Jefferson last year. He said he pulled into their quarter-mile driveway to make a cell phone call and became angry when he was kicked off the property.
Caisha Wantz said she and her husband encountered Beers as they were leaving home to run an errand. She said she threatened to call police and he laughed at her, mocked her and started driving toward her like he was going to run over her. She responded by tossing her coffee on his rear window.
Beers left but returned when the Wantzes left and kidnapped their dog, Zoey, when she walked up to his car, police said. He admitted to throwing Zoey from a bridge into the Catoctin Creek as he drove home. She was never found.
Beers pleaded guilty to felony animal cruelty and misdemeanor theft.
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