UTICA, Mich. (WXYZ) — The man accused of killing and torturing Sterling the dog in Utica earlier this year has been sentenced to up to six years in prison.
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Alexander Gerth will have to serve a minimum of three years.
Gerth pleaded no contest to the charges of killing and torturing an animal.
Sterling was found underneath a picnic table on Jan. 24, 2019, in Grant Park in below-freezing temperatures. There was a trail of blood from a nearby trash can to the location where Sterling died.
"I respectfully want people to know, if I could go back and do this differently, I would," Gerth said.
The judge said it was one of the worst cases of animal cruelty he has ever seen. He also ordered that Gerth does not own any pets in the future.
