During a sentencing hearing, a woman told the Butler man charged with killing her dog that she’ll never forgive him for the January 2024 incident where her dog was stolen and beaten.

Joseph W. Hillard, 28, was scheduled to be sentenced in accordance with a plea agreement on felony charges of burglary and aggravated cruelty to animals, and a misdemeanor charge of tampering with evidence at the Thursday hearing at the Butler County Common Pleas Court, but Judge Joseph Kubit continued the hearing because Hillard’s attorney was not available.

“I know for a fact you’re going to burn in hell,” said Chyanne Callender, who owned the 10-year-old pug dog named Lexi that Hillard is charged with killing.

The agreement calls for Hillard to serve 8 to 23 and a half months in jail for the burglary cha

See Full Page