BELLEVILLE -- Tommy the pit bill, who was found beaten, starved and discarded in a trash can eight months ago, stood outside while his former owner, Tracia Johnson, pleaded guilty in court Wednesday to animal cruelty and received a one-year probation sentence.
Tommy came to the St. Clair County Building with his new owners, Sue and Tim McGowan, to protest animal abuse. Inside, St. Clair County Associate Judge Laninya Cason accepted Johnson's guilty plea. Cason then sentenced Johnson to one year of probation, during which time she cannot own any animals, must complete 250 hours of community service, and forfeited her $1,000 bail.
Assistant State's Attorney Benjamin Henning asked for 60 days in the county jail.
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