Lancaster man shown on video abusing puppy gets probation

A Lancaster man was sentenced to probation Wednesday after pleading no contest to punching and body-slamming his 6-month-old pit bull mix puppy, prosecutors said.

Robert Emmett Martin, 54, entered the plea to one felony count of cruelty to an animal, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office said in a statement. He was sentenced to five years of formal probation, 90 days of community service and ordered to attend 24 animal cruelty prevention classes.

Martin also was prohibited from owning an animal for 10 years, prosecutors said.

Last month, Martin pleaded not guilty to animal cruelty after he was shown on cellphone video striking and hurling his dog, Daisy, to the ground, authorities said. He entered the new plea Wednesday.

The footage taken Aug. 8 shows Martin yanking, pulling and swinging the dog up by its leash. He then picks up the dog, which barked a few times, before slamming it to the ground.

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