SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A 30-year-old parole violator faces up to five years in prison when sentenced for killing a police dog, a crime that helped prompt lawmakers to increase the possible sentence in such cases.
A jury Friday convicted Torey Chase Massey of West Jordan of five counts, including a charge for killing a Unified Police Department dog named Dingo in 2017.
Under the change approved by lawmakers, such crimes now are punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Massey’s other convictions include two flight-from-police counts punishable by up to five years in prison and convictions for two weapons crimes could put him in prison the rest of his life.
Massey shot the dog while running from police trying to arrest him for violating his parole.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 17.
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