A Sandy Springs man pleaded guilty Thursday to charges that he used a dead dog to beat his girlfriend, Fulton County prosecutors said.
Emmanuel Alfredo Tadeo was charged with aggravated assault, felony aggravated animal cruelty, misdemeanor animal cruelty and battery in connection with the May 19 attack, the Fulton district attorney's office said in a news release issued Thursday morning.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shawn LaGrua accepted Tadeo's plea but withheld sentencing until the defendant can undergo a psychological evaluation. A sentencing date has not been determined.
Tadeo faces up to 20 years in prison on the aggravated assault charge and five years in prison on the felony animal cruelty charge.
The incident happened in the victim's Foxcroft condominium apartment on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs.
Tadeo kicked and beat the woman, kicked and stomped the dog, a Pomeranian, after it rushed to its owner's defense, snapped the dog's neck and used the dead animal to beat the woman more, authorities said.
Sandy Springs police Capt. Steve Rose described the incident as "probably one of the worst cases of animal cruelty that we've ever seen."
The man had been drinking heavily, police said.
Tadeo initially was charged with battery and misdemeanor animal cruelty and was released June 14 after posting $5,000 bond. He was re-arrested July 13 after prosecutors upgraded the charges to felonies. He remained held without bond Thursday in Fulton County Jail.
The female victim, Andrea Jill Armintrout, was arrested and charged with one count of misdemeanor obstruction after she allegedly stopped cooperating with police. She was released July 13 after posting $500 bond, Fulton jail records show.
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