Man pleads guilty to attempted animal killing in dog death case.

Eric Wood, at right, with his attorney Jason Kolkema.

Man pleads guilty to attempted animal killing in dog death case.

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

LUDINGTON — A 37-year-old Montague man pleaded guilty to attempted killing/torturing an animal in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, June 22, in connection to the killing of a dog.

Eric James Wood II, of 5016 W. Webster Rd., testified before Judge Susan K. Sniegowski that he killed a chihuahua pekingese mix Dec 19, 2020 in Riverton Township. He shot the dog, which was his girlfriend’s mother’s dog, with a handgun, according to Mason County Prosecutor Lauren Kreinbrink.

Wood was arrested by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office on felony charges of killing/torturing an animal and felony firearm. Those charges will be dismissed after pleading to the lesser charge.

Wood will receive a sentence of probation and no jail. He will be ordered to complete a psychological evaluation and perform 500 hours of community service. He will also be ordered to not own or possess an animal, said Kreinbrink.

Sentencing guidelines in the case are 0-3 months.

The maximum penalty for attempted killing/torturing an animal is two years.

Sentencing is set for Sept. 7 at 1:30 p.m. 

Please consider helping to fund local news. Mason County Press and Oceana County Press are available for free thanks to the generous support of our advertisers and individuals who support our service. Click on the PayPal donation button located on the top right of our website. 

This story is copyrighted © 2021, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.

As the services of Media Group 31, LLC are news services, the information posted within the sites are archivable for public record and historical posterity. For this reason it is the policy and practice of this company to not delete postings. It is the editor’s discretion to update or edit a story when/if new information becomes available. This may be done by editing the posted story or posting a new “follow-up” story. Media Group 31, LLC or any of its agents have the right to make any changes to this policy. Refer to Use Policy for more information.