August 28, 2019
The person accused
of killing a pit bull by setting it on fire earlier this year, Jyahshua A.
Hill, 20, of the 1300 block of St. Peter Street, pleaded guilty today in
Richmond Circuit Court to one count of Felony Animal Cruelty.
As part of a plea
agreement, Hill will serve five years in prison, the maximum sentence allowable
by law, without the possibility of parole. In addition, he will have three
years of post-release supervision by the court. He is also barred from owning
or possessing animals for life.
Hill was accused
of tying a pit bull to a fence in Abner Clay Park, dousing it with a flammable
liquid, and setting it on fire last February. The dog, named Tommie by
rescuers, was treated for severe burns but died five days later.
Hill was arrested
in May, shortly after he was indicted by the Multi-jurisdictional Grand Jury on
one count of Felony Animal Cruelty.
The incident
sparked widespread public outrage. Contributions in Tommie’s memory are still
being accepted by Richmond Animal Care and Control.
