Va. Beach man found guilty of animal cruelty, sentenced to 2 years in prison

Vernon Boyd Eaton, Jr. (Photo courtesy Virginia Beach Animal Control) (Copyright by WSLS - All rights reserved)

By Emily Satchell – VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A Virginia Beach man was sentenced to two years in prison after he was found guilty of felony animal cruelty.

Vernon Eaton, Jr. was sentenced to five years behind bars, with three years suspended. He is barred from owning a companion animal for the rest of his life.

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Eaton was charged with animal cruelty last August.

According to evidence from prosecutors, a witness saw a dog who appeared to be choking in the bed of a truck on Aug. 1, 2015.

As this witness moved closer to the truck, they reportedly saw the dog had one or more zip ties around its neck. The witness followed the truck to a shopping center, where they found Eaton parked next to a dumpster.

They also reportedly saw the dog had been stabbed, and that Eaton had a bloody knife in his hand. After cutting the zip ties, the witness watched the dog gasp several times before dying.

Eaton must report to jail by Sept. 26.