A Wayne New Jersey man entered a guilty plea on animal cruelty charges stemming from the violent beating death of his girlfriend’s dog.

The beating occurred on March 18, 2016 during a domestic violence incident at the suspect’s home in Wayne, NJ. According to Passaic County NJ prosecutors, the suspect got into a fight with his girlfriend over the suspect’s use of illegal drugs. At some point during the verbal argument, the suspect reportedly snapped and started to violently attack a seven-month-old Siberian Husky with a chair. The attack reportedly lasted until the chair had been broken into several pieces. The dog later died as a result of injuries sustained in the assault.

The suspect is a 23-year-old man from Wayne, New Jersey. He was arrested and charged with multiple crimes, including third degree animal cruelty and third degree terroristic threats.

If the suspect had fought the charges and gone to trial in Passaic County Superior Court, he would have been subject to severe penalties. Under the NJ Criminal Code, third degree felonies carry a possible sentence of 3-5 years in New Jersey State Prison.

However, the suspect did not go to trial. Instead, he reached a plea agreement with Passaic County prosecutors. Under the terms of the plea deal, the suspect pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and terroristic threats, while the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office agreed to recommend that the suspect be sentenced to just one year in the county jail.

The suspect recently made an appearance in Passaic County Superior Court and formally pleaded guilty to the criminal charges.

The suspect is expected to serve 364 days in the Passaic County Jail. He will then be on probation for a period of five years after he completes his sentence.

For additional information about this case, read the NJ.com article, “Man Admits Beating Girlfriend’s Puppy to Death, Report Says.”