Feb 26, 2015 2 min read

A New Eagle man was sentenced to 3 to 23 months in jail after pleading guilty to his role in an animal cruelty case that left two pit bull puppies injured.

Danny Roosevelt Watts, 25, of 135 Union St., appeared before Washington County Judge Gary Gilman Feb. 17 and pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals.

Watts and his wife, Kimberly Watts, 26, also of 135 Union St., were accused of stabbing one animal and injuring the other March 22 in their home.

Monongahela police officers responded to the couple’s home for a report of a 2-year-old girl who was bitten on the lip and forehead by a dog. The girl was taken to an area hospital, where she received stitches to her lip.

When police initially talked with Kimberly Watts, she told police the dog bit her daughter and she grabbed a knife and stabbed the dog because that was what she “was taught to do.” She later changed her story and told police she saw the dog biting the girl on the lip, and when she yelled at the puppy, it ran to a back room. She said she then grabbed the knife and went to the room, where she stabbed the animal.

The puppy had several cuts on its head, stomach and back. Police also spotted a second puppy, which was limping badly.

Danny Watts told police the second puppy was injured while tussling with the other dog. Officers were later told by a witness that Danny Watts threw the puppy against a wall.

Both puppies were taken for emergency veterinary care.

Kimberly Watts was sentenced before Gilman in October to 3 to 23 months in jail.

Danny Watts was ordered to report to the county jail at 6 p.m. today.