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At the age of 43, McKeown found himself at the center of a significant police operation after informing his wife that their car had been stolen. This led to an extensive search effort by law enforcement and a nationwide plea for information.
Despite making numerous TV and radio appearances, pleading for public assistance in locating his beloved pet, Arnie, McKeown managed to avoid a jail sentence following what was described as a “snowball” of deceit.
The situation escalated to such a degree that security personnel conducted a thorough search of the courthouse for explosives, a precaution prompted by the numerous death threats McKeown had received post-arrest.
Ultimately, McKeown admitted to the unlawful killing of his dog and to hindering police operations by initiating a futile hunt for his missing vehicle.
His impassioned appeals on national television sparked a wave of reported Arnie sightings and ignited a social media frenzy, garnering millions of views and capturing widespread public attention.
Magistrate Deborah Vasta told McKeown he had been “public enemy No.1” after his arrest.
“Members of the public felt betrayed, they felt you perhaps manipulated or exploited their emotions for your own benefit,” she said.
“I take into account public condemnation and much of it is justified.”
Defence solicitor Patrick Quinn said his client had received “vile” death threats via social media.
“They call for his death, his gassing, for him to be beaten. He has essentially been in hiding,” he said.
McKeown’s offending was unusual and extreme, the police prosecutor said.
“He left Arnie in the car with no food, water or ventilation,” the prosecutor said.
McKeown also pleaded guilty to unlicensed driving and driving under the influence.
The prosecutor said McKeown was captured on CCTV letting Arnie out of the ute to go to the toilet on the evening of November 7 in inner Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley.
“McKeown appeared heavily affected by alcohol. He was unsteady,” the prosecutor said.
Vasta heard McKeown did not return and instead visited several venues, bars, service stations and fast food outlets until the early hours of November 8.
McKeown could not remember where he parked and told his wife his ute had been stolen, which she reported to police.
“On a large scale he misdirected police and the public to find the ute. He persisted with the false narrative in national media,” the prosecutor said.
The amount of police resources wasted in the search and chasing sightings of Arnie was large, Vasta heard.
A resident smelled a foul odour coming from McKeown’s utility on November 17 and police found Arnie in an advanced state of decomposition.
McKeown should not face prison time as he had no prior criminal record, had checked in to drug and alcohol rehabilitation and was deeply remorseful, Vasta heard.
“It’s a perfect example of the cover-up being worse than the original offences,” Quinn said.
McKeown had owned and trained Arnie since he was a nine-week-old puppy and took the dog with him everywhere, Vasta heard.
“It was a classic snowball that got bigger and bigger…and you didn’t have the guts,” Vasta said.
“Your actions killed your dog. Your best friend.”
Vasta told McKeown he would have been jailed if he had deliberately killed Arnie.
Instead he received the maximum 240 hours of community service and was disqualified from driving for eight months.
“Your past is going to travel with you when people google you. I’m not going to record conviction. That would make things worse.”
McKeown declined to comment as he left court.
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