Cobb County man to serve 5 years for killing dog he threw off balcony

Lee Bullock (Credit: Cobb County Sheriffs)

Lee Bullock (Credit: Cobb County Sheriffs)

A Cobb County man was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison for throwing a dog over a balcony, killing it, Cobb District Attorney Vic Reynolds said.

Lee Bishop Bullock, 28, of Kennesaw, pled guilty to two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals.

Bullock, who authorities say was already on felony probation, was living with the dog’s owner in Kennesaw when the incident happened. Bullock was home alone with the 6-year-old dog when he slammed the animal’s head into a wall, knocking out its teeth. He then threw the 10-pound dog off the second-floor balcony, causing injuries so severe that the dog died on the way to a veterinary hospital, according to a statement by the district attorney.

Prosecutor Sherwin Figueroa, who specializes in animal abuse cases, said Bullock told varying stories about how the animal was injured. She pointed out that Bullock claimed the dog had bitten him, despite not having any bite marks.

Figueroa said Bullock “has shown absolutely no remorse” and asked that he be sentenced to 10 years, with 5 years in prison.

During the trial, Bullock’s lawyer told the court that Bullock was addicted to prescription drugs and was taking amphetamines the day the dog died. Bullock tearfully told the judge that he’s ready to get his life together and requested to enter a drug-treatment program through the Department of Corrections.

Cobb Superior Court Judge Robert Leonard agreed to recommend Bullock for the treatment program but said, “I feel like you’re taking one problem and blaming another problem. This is more related to character than drugs.” The judge then ordered Bullock to serve five years in prison, followed by five years on probation.