A Massachusetts man has pleaded not guilty in connection with the beating death of his girlfriend's dog Monday night.
Steven Severino, 31, of Peabody, was arraigned Tuesday in Malden District Court and charged with one count of animal cruelty in connection with the alleged physical abuse of a dog in Everett.
Police arrested Severino after neighbors said they heard a dog yelping.
"There were several neighbor witnesses in this matter who alleged to hear yelping from a dog as well as the sound that they believed to be a dog being thrown against a structure," said Assistant District Attorney Parker Williams.
Authorities said the dog died after suffering a broken jaw and other serious injuries. A necropsy will determine the exact cause of death.
In court, Severino's court-appointed attorney said he had no criminal history.
The judge set bail at $150 cash and ordered Severino to have no unsupervised contact with animals.
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Severino is due back in court Nov. 7 for a hearing.
