Macon man gets 15 years in dog beating case

A Macon man was sentenced to 15 years in prison Tuesday in connection with beating his pit bull to death in 2008.

Anthony Bernard Burke, 21, of Melvin Place, also was found guilty of influencing two witnesses and giving false information to police, prosecutor Kim Schwartz said.

Burke’s trial began Monday in Bibb County Superior Court. Jurors deliberated about a half-hour Tuesday before returning their verdict, Schwartz said.

During the trial, three eyewitnesses testified that they saw Burke beat the dog to death in his yard on Dec. 18, 2008, after the dog had escaped from a heavy logging chain being used to tether it. Burke used the same chain and a garden hoe to strike the dog, hitting it in the head.

“He beat her until the handle of the hoe broke,” Schwartz said.

Burke left before police arrived. Later, he gave an officer a false name when he was arrested.

After being released on bond, Burke threatened a man who lived across the street and his next-door neighbor, warning both of them not to talk to police.

Both witnessed the attack on the dog, she said.

He told the man, “there will be bullets flying and houses burning, and I’ve got people,” Schwartz said.

Burke told the woman he’d tell police she was selling drugs if she said anything about the attack, Schwartz said.

Ten years of Burke’s prison sentence stems from one of the witness-influencing charges. An additional 10 years of probation, which Burke must serve after his prison sentence, also was levied from a witness influencing charge.

“We need to send a message that it’s not OK to threaten people who are willing to come forward and talk to the police,” Schwartz said.

Burke also must pay a $20,000 fine and $2,500 in fees.

Burke was out on bond Jan. 31 when a jury was first selected in his case, but he left the courthouse during a lunch break and didn’t return. He was arrested on a bench warrant Feb. 28 and remained in jail awaiting this week’s trial.

Information from Telegraph archives was used in this report. To contact writer Amy Leigh Womack, call 744-4398.