No Jail Time For Man Who Kicked Labdradoodle In OC, DA Says

ANAHEIM, CA — The 34-year-old man seen on a Ring doorbell camera kicking at a Labradoodle in an Anaheim apartment complex last year pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty and was placed on one year of probation, authorities said Wednesday.

Albert Frank Abad Jr. agreed to a court offer from Orange County Superior Court Judge Justin Glenn-Leistikow that reduced the charge from a felony, allowing the man to avoid jail time, according to the Orange County District Attorney's office.

Prosecutors had originally sought a jail sentence, spokeswoman for the OCDA's office Kimberly Edds said.

According to Edds, OC District Attorney Todd Spitzer disagreed with Glenn-Leistikow's decision to lower the crime. In a statement, Spitzer said it was "shocking" that hte judge would "exercise that discretion to give a break to someone who clearly has no issue engaging in cruelty to a vulnerable animal."

“The love of a dog is unconditional and to betray that trust is truly disgusting,” Spitzer said.

READ MORE: OC Animal Abuse Case: Dog Gets Second Chance At Happy Home

The video of the attack was taken on Sept. 15, 2022 and showed a man — identified later as Abad — walking up to the Labradoodle, who was sitting next to an exit door, then swinging at the dog and cornering it against the wall before kicking it twice at the Gateway Apartment Homes of State Collect Boulevard.

The video then showed Abad attaching a leash to the dog and dragging it back down the hallway, away from the camera, kicking it twice more.

A week later, Abad turned himself in to Anaheim police and was arrested before posting bond and being released.

The labradoodle — named Steeler — was dropped off at the Cedar Sinai Animal Hospital in Los Angeles by Abad sometime after the attack. He was checked out by veterinarians and was not permanently injured.

No further information was immediately available.