A north Idaho man who entered an Alford plea (not admitting guilty but conceding that a trial would likely find him guilty) on a charge of misdemeanor cruelty to an animal has received a fine of $1,000, 30 days in jail, community service and must submit to a mental health exam, according to a story in the Coeur d'Alene Press.
The 27-year-old man was charged with cruelty to his girlfriend's 3-year-old dog. The prosecutor in the case says he hopes the sentence sends a message to others than cruelty to animals has negative consequences.
