Pennsylvania: Greg Novick Jr. charged with chopping off head of grandmother's dog

PENNSYLVANIA -- A 24-year-old man is accused of chopping the head off his grandmother's dog.

On Friday, Allegheny Township District Judge Cheryl Peck Yakopec ordered Gregory Novick Jr., no address available, sent to the Westmoreland County jail in lieu of $50,000 bail pending a preliminary hearing.

Novick could be released if he can post $5,000 but the $50,000 bond would be reapplied if he violates terms of the bond.

Police said Novick previously lived with his grandmother in a house in the 100 block of Michigan Avenue in Lower Burrell and disliked her pet dog.

According to arrest papers, Novick came home "highly intoxicated" on Feb. 15 and wanted to talk to his grandmother but the dog growled at him and wouldn't let him near her.

Novick then is accused of luring the dog into the kitchen where he used a hatchet to kill the animal.

The grandmother told police that, after the dog left her side, it suddenly was quiet in the house and, a brief time later, Novick told her he killed the dog.

She didn't believe him and asked where the dog had gone.

According to the police report, Novick told her he put the dog in a burn barrel. Novick then left the house, according to police reports.

The next morning, his grandmother saw foot prints in the snow. The tracks led from the house to the barrel. When she opened the lid, she saw her beloved dog's bloody body.

The same day, Novick was sent to the county jail for violating a probation he was serving in a drunken- driving case.

Police said he tried to return to his grandmother's house on Feb. 23 but he was turned away.

Novick was arrested after he went to a meeting with probation officials in New Kensington.

In the latest case, he is charged with cruelty to animals and criminal trespass.

CAREER CRIMINAL AT THE AGE OF 24

According to published reports, in August , he was sentenced to intermediate punishment for six months with 40 days of electronic monitoring for drunken driving. He was ordered to attend an alcohol highway safety school and his license was suspended for 12 months.

In December 2006, Novick, then 19, pleaded guilty to indecent assault and was sentenced to one-year of probation.

ARREST INFO:
Full Name: Gregory Novick Jr
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 10/31/1987
Arrest Age:24
Date:03/02/2012
Arrest Location: Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Total Bond: $150,000
Charges
#1 Cr Anim: Kill/maim Domestic Animal
STATUTE: 18 5511 A1I M2
BOND: $50,000

#2 Crim Tres Enter Structure
STATUTE: 18 3503 A1I F3
BOND: $50,000

#3 Dui: Highest Rte Of Alc(Bac .16+) Ist Off
STATUTE: 75 3802 C* M
BOND: $50,000

(Tribune Live - March 3, 2012)