Injustice in Pennsylvania: No jail time for Jason French, who strangled his dog for THREE HOURS until he finally killed it

PENNSYLVANIA -- Animal rights activists gathered outside the Westmoreland County Courthouse, where inside a man who told police he strangled his dog to death because it "wouldn't stop barking" was learning his legal fate.

As KDKA in Pittsburgh reports, defendant Jason French, who pleaded guilty to killing his 3-month-old dog, Apollo, in his yard because the puppy wouldn't stop barking, received no jail time in the case.

An officer alleged that French showed no
remorse, saying "It took me three hours
to strangle [him]. You wouldn't think
it would take long with a dog that size."

This is despite the fact that police in Irwin, Pa., said it took French about three hours to strangle the dog.

"He was surprised that it had taken him that long to do so," KDKA quotes an officer as saying.

In the end, Judge Megan Bilik-Defazio sentenced French to 7-23 months in jail, but immediately paroled him for court-mandated inpatient mental health treatment, KDKA writes.

The mitigating factor seemed to be French's mental state.

His defense attorney argued that it was a damaged mind that drove the 33-year-old Irwin year old man to commit such a horrific act, adding that French is diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, KDKA writes:

Leaving the courthouse, French said, "I'm very sorry for what I've done, and yeah, I did love my dog."

He faces mandated inpatient treatment while on probation, $300 in restitution, and he is not allowed to own a pet during his probation nor stay in a home with pets.

However, can get another animal once he serves his time.

(PennLive - July 22, 2016)

Earlier:

• Jason French, 33, charged with cruelty to animals after strangling his dog "for three hours" until it died
• Jason French, Accused Of Strangling Dog, To Stand Trial