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A Jefferson County jury quickly convicted a Lakewood man today for shooting and killing a neighbor’s dog.
Ryan Hayes, 49, was found guilty of four misdemeanors: aggravated animal cruelty, possession of a weapon while intoxicated and two counts of reckless endangerment. The jury rejected a felony charge of aggravated animal cruelty.
Hayes took the stand to tell jurors that he was attempting to avoid an accident when he grabbed the loaded .357-caliber Magnum pistol away from Patches, a Jack Russell terrier mix owned by Marlys Duggan who lived across the street.
Hayes faces a jail term when he is sentenced in April. District Court Judge Jane Tidball ordered a mental health evaluation of Hayes.
