UTICA (AP) -- A retired trooper faces a felony charge for fatally shooting a German shepherd at an Oneida County park.
The dog's owner, Bernard Sperfeld of Utica, says Anthony Randazzo of Holland Patent killed his pet in retaliation for an argument Sperfeld had had with a woman acquaintance of the former trooper. Randazzo's lawyer, Les Lewis, says his client shot the shepherd in self-defense last August when it ran at him.
Randazzo pleaded not guilty Friday in Oneida County Court. Prosecutor Christopher Pelli offered a plea deal that would require Randazzo to pay a $1,000 fine and $450 to the dog's owner, and surrender his pistol permit, in exchange for pleading guilty to a misdemeanor. Lewis says he believes Randazzo will reject the deal.
Randazzo is due back in court Nov. 7.
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