Court records show that Cole Daughtry pleaded guilty to aggravated animal cruelty during his first pre-trial hearing.
MIDDLEBURG, Fla. — A Clay County man will spend five years in state prison after abusing and killing his girlfriend’s dog.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office said that in August, a woman discovered videos on her phone showing her then-boyfriend, 26-year-old Cole Daughtry, abusing her dog, Nina. Deputies said Nina later died from injuries related to the abuse.
After Nina’s death, Daughtry reportedly told his girlfriend that the dog had “died from natural causes.” He also allegedly said he had buried Nina while his girlfriend was away from home.
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Once she found the videos, Daughtry’s former girlfriend confronted him and contacted law enforcement. He was arrested Aug. 9 and charged with one count of aggravated animal cruelty.
According to court records, Daughtry entered a guilty plea on Oct. 6 at his first pre-trial hearing. The court sentenced him to five years in state prison.
“To call this case disturbing is simply an understatement, and there’s no excuse for this kind of cruelty,” Sheriff Michelle Cook said. “I’m grateful to our detectives who worked on this case and our partners at the State Attorney’s Office for holding this defendant accountable.”