By Staff
NILES - A man facing three charges for allegedly shooting and killing a chocolate Labrador made a plea bargain with prosecutors Friday morning.
Fred Crawford Pearson, 82, of 517 Maple Street, Niles, plead guilty to the felony charge of animal cruelty, which carries a maximum sentence of four years.
In exchange for Pearson's guilty plea to the animal cruelty charge, one count of felony firearms and one misdemeanor count of reckless use of a firearm were both dropped by prosecutors.
Fifth District Judge Gary J. Bruce set Pearson's sentencing for Friday, April 24, at 8:30 a.m. in the Berrien County Trial Courtroom in the South County Building in Niles.
The multiple charges against Pearson stem from the Thursday, March 9 incident, where Pearson allegedly shot a three-and-a-half-year-old Lab owned by his neighbors, Cathy Stevens and Todd Lahti of 511 Maple St., Niles.
Pearson remains out on bond.