Fatally beating dog brings 60 days in jail

A Mountlake Terrace man who beat his German shepherd dog to death with a broom handle was sentenced to 60 days in jail Monday.

Randall W. Brown, 21, also was ordered to undergo an anger management evaluation and alcohol treatment by Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Anita Farris.

Brown pleaded guilty to felony first-degree animal cruelty in November. Farris said he can start serving his jail term March 2, giving Brown time to undergo physical therapy for an unrelated hand injury.

Brown claimed that he beat his dog, Diesel, after the dog bit him April 29. Deputy prosecutor Janice Albert told the judge there’s no evidence to support that the dog was vicious or that Diesel injured Brown.

A neighbor heard yelling, doors slamming, thuds and screeching coming from Brown’s home, according to court papers. The neighbor looked outside and saw Brown with a broom handle repeatedly striking Diesel “with all his strength,” documents said.

Brown later called 911 to report that his dog bit him. When an aid crew arrived medics found Brown obviously intoxicated with blood on a hand and on his legs, documents said.

He also told authorities that Diesel had been playing with a rat and later wouldn’t get off his bed and bit him.

Diesel was still alive when authorities arrived, but his breathing was labored and he seemed unaware that anyone was there. He couldn’t move his hindquarters. The dog went into a seizure and died.

Brown refused medical treatment for his own injury.

On Monday, Albert recommended a special waiver for Brown, because he has no prior felony convictions. She told the judge that state officials could keep Brown under supervision for two years under that waiver.

That would require him to undergo the anger management evaluation and alcohol treatment.

Without the waiver, his sentence could have been up to a year.

Albert told the judge the community would be better served with supervision, evaluation and alcohol treatment. Brown would have no supervision without the waiver.

Edmonds defense attorney John Seglebaum told the judge that Brown didn’t realize he had severely injured the dog. In any event, the beating was out of character for Brown, Seglebaum said. The attorney also conceded that at the time Brown’s “judgment was clouded by alcohol.”

Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or haley@heraldnet.com.