Former Los Angeles assistant fire chief to appeal 90-day jail sentence for fatal puppy beating

Ex-LA fire official gets jail for dog beating

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — A retired Los Angeles County assistant fire chief plans to appeal his 90-day jail sentence for using a rock to beat a puppy so severely it was euthanized.

Glynn Johnson apologized Friday to the dog’s owners, who urged the judge to give him the maximum sentence of more than four years in prison.

Johnson must also perform 400 hours of community service working with dogs, take anger management courses and repay the vet bills.

The 55-year-old Hillcrest man was convicted in January of animal cruelty using a deadly weapon for the 2008 attack in which he repeatedly bashed a 6-month-old German-shepherd mix named Karley in the head.

Johnson claimed he was freeing himself after the neighbor dog clamped its mouth on his hand as he walked her home.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — A retired Los Angeles County assistant fire chief was sentenced Friday to 90 days in jail for using a rock to beat a puppy so severely it was euthanized.

Glynn Johnson apologized to the dog’s owners, who urged the judge to give him the maximum sentence of more than four years in prison.

Besides jail time, Johnson must perform 400 hours of community service working with dogs and repay the owners’ vet bills.

The 55-year-old Hillcrest man was convicted in January of animal cruelty using a deadly weapon for the 2008 attack in which he repeatedly bashed a 6-month-old German-shepherd mix in the head.

Johnson claimed he was freeing himself after the neighbor’s dog, Karley, clamped its mouth on his hand and nearly severed his thumb tip as he walked her home.