BUCYRUS—A Bucyrus High School and former Pioneer Career and Technology student charged with criminal mischief for allegedly beheading a dog he hit and killed on his way to school has been sentenced.
The teen boy’s name is being withheld because he is a juvenile. Crawford County Now has obtained information that indicates the teen pleaded guilty to one count of criminal mischief. Criminal mischief is defined:
(a) A person is guilty of criminal mischief if he or she: (1) Damages tangible property of another purposely, recklessly, or by negligence in the employment of fire, explosives, or other dangerous means; or.
(2) Purposely or recklessly tampers with tangible property of another so as to endanger person or property; or. According to Ohio law, animals are considered property.
According to Crawford County Prosecutor Matt Crall, the juvenile, who has no prior record, could not be tried as an adult on a 5th-degree felony. An adult with no prior record tried on a fifth-degree felony would not be prison eligible.
The juvenile did plead guilty in Crawford County Juvenile Court Judge Pat Murphy ordered the juvenile to pay a fine and perform 15 hours of community service.
On January 14th, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department, along with the assistance of the Crawford County Dog Warden, investigated a call and found the dog’s head on a guard rail near Stetzer Road.
The victim, Macy, was a beloved pet of the Burgin family of rural Bucyrus. The juvenile’s sentence does little to ease the pain of the Burgin family, who lost their 12-year-old family pet:
“She was the runt of the litter, probably would not have had a home without us, as most people that bought from them were looking for strong hunting dogs. She became ill at around age 4. We had her at MedVet in Columbus multiple times and overnight stays. I don’t think they ever came up with a diagnosis just threw everything at her. Luckily she pulled through a miracle. She was loved dearly,” Dave Burgin told Crawford County Now.