No jail time for Springfield man who killed neighbor’s dog with baseball bat

A Springfield man who pleaded guilty to killing his neighbor’s dog with a baseball bat in April avoided jail time and was sentenced to community service.

Jeffrey Sagraves was ordered to 40 hours of community service and to pay $300 in fines for burglary and cruelty to a companion animal.

He was facing a maximum of 18 months in jail for burglary and 12 months for cruelty to a companion animal.

In October, Sagraves called 9-1-1 to report that there were two pit bulls in his backyard attacking his cat, according to Clark County Common Pleas Court documents.

During the call, he reportedly told dispatchers that the dogs belonged to his neighbor and threatened to kill the dogs if police didn’t show up soon

The cat died during the incident, according to court records.

Minutes later, a neighbor, Lisa Marie Everhart, called 9-1-1 and said a man identified as Sagraves reportedly broke in her home and hit her dog in the head with a wooden bat.

She was visibly upset, as well as her young children, who were screaming and crying, according to a court affidavit.

Everhart was charged with a misdemeanor for failing to confine her dogs.