Eric Miller pleads guilty to vicious attack on girlfriend's dog. Did girlfriend take her dog and split? Nope. She married the abuser!

NEW YORK -- A Corning man pleaded guilty Monday in Chemung County Court of aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony, county District Attorney Weeden Wetmore said.

Erik G. Miller, who turns 29 Tuesday, admitted to Judge Richard Rich Jr. that he kicked his girlfriend's dog named Lacey, intentionally causing serious physical injury, on Nov. 12 in the Village of Elmira Heights, Wetmore said.

As a result of Miller's repeated kicks, the King Charles cavalier pug mixed breed dog suffered blunt-force trauma, including multiple rib fractures, severe pulmonary contusions and subcutaneous emphysema, Wetmore said.

The dog, named Lacey, was taken to a local veterinary clinic and was then hospitalized at the Cornell Animal Hospital for several weeks after the attack, the district attorney said.

Medical expenses for the dog totaled about $15,000, he said.

At the time of Miller's arrest, the dog was seized by Elmira City Animal Control and remains safe in foster care, according to Wetmore.

After Miller's guilty plea, the court ordered a pre-sentence report from the probation department, Wetmore said. Sentencing was scheduled for 9 a.m. June 12. Miller faces up to six months in the Chemung County Jail and five years' of supervised probation. As part of the guilty plea, Miller will be required to pay restitution for the dog's medical expenses, he said.

Additionally as part of the guilty plea, Miller will be prohibited under the law from owning or possessing a pet, Wetmore said. Miller also was required to waive his right to appeal, he said.

Horseheads attorney James Feratella, who represented Miller, declined comment Monday afternoon.

"This was a violent, unprovoked attack on a helpless animal, who couldn't plead her own case or defend herself, and I will address that further in court at the time of sentencing," said Assistant District Attorney Jason Cook, who handled the prosecution.

At the time of the attack, Lacey's owner was in a romantic relationship with Miller and is now married to him, and prosecutors weren't sure how cooperative she would be, Cook said. However, a Good Samaritan neighbor who heard Miller beating the dog called 911 for help, he said.

"The waiver of appeal is also important, as it brings some finality to this case," Cook said.

(Elmira Star-Gazette - April 27, 2015)

Earlier:

• Corning man, Erik Miller, charged with animal cruelty, drugs
• Corning man, Erik Miller, indicted by grand jury for abusing Pug
• Corning man’s felony animal abuse case adjourned