A MAN who pleaded guilty to an allegation he tortured a dog will apply to reverse the plea after obtaining legal advice.
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Jacob Edward Menz, 27, pleaded guilty in Wagga Local Court on May 25 to two charges.
The first charge alleged he tortured, beat and caused prolonged suffering to an animal.
The second charge alleged he committed an act of aggravated cruelty upon an animal.
It is alleged Menz mistreated a seven-year-old Staffy cross in his central Wagga home earlier this year.
After entering his guilty pleas in May, Menz was asked by magistrate Erin Kennedy then if he had read the police facts tendered to the court.
“Vaguely,” said Menz, who represented himself in court that day.
“Do you agree with them?” Ms Kennedy asked.
“Yeah,” replied Menz.
Menz told the court that day he would seek legal advice ahead of his sentencing, which was listed for Monday after the preparation of a pre-sentence report by Probation and Parole.
Solicitor PC Reddy told Ms Kennedy on Monday he had advised Menz to put in an application to reverse his plea to the first charge.
Mr Reddy said he had “major problems” with the charge, which attracts a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
“There are going to be a lot of difficulties going to sentence with the facts as they are,” Mr Reddy said.
“It can be sorted out, but I just need time to do that, your honour.”
Ms Kennedy said she would order a transcript of the May 25 proceedings, while Mr Reddy said he would lodge a plea reversal application on Menz’s behalf.
The case was adjourned to July 12.
Police allege Menz harmed the dog, named Tess, between February 7 and April 6.
Tess belongs to a person who shared a house with Menz at the time.
According to police facts tendered to the court, Tess’s owner became suspicious after the dog suffered a number of unexplained injuries, such as scabs on her legs and face and a claw that appeared to have been ripped out.
Tess’s owner hid a surveillance camera inside an Easter egg box in her bedroom where she was allowing Tess to sleep while she was at work.
According to the police facts, the camera caught footage of Menz entering the bedroom in April and mistreating Tess, including squeezing her throat and pressing her stomach.