John G. Riordan

A West Virginia man was sentenced to jail and immediately paroled Thursday for attacking a dog with a sledgehammer in 2019.

State police arrested John G. Riordan on Sept. 21, 2019, after they said he attacked Jason Anthony's 13-year-old dog, Bailey, with a sledgehammer while staying at Anthony's home on Green Manor Drive in Summit Township.

The attack left the dog with a badly swollen snout and jaw, missing and broken teeth and mental trauma, according to police and Anthony.

Riordan pleaded no contest March 1 to aggravated cruelty to animals — causing serious bodily injury or death, a felony, and a misdemeanor DUI. As part of the plea deal, all other charges were dropped.

Read more in Friday's Butler Eagle.