Arkansas man pleads guilty to kicking, smashing wife's Yorkie

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KFSM) -- A Bentonville man pleaded guilty after injuring his wife's Yorkie by smashing the animal's head against a brick wall and kicking it several times in the ribs.

Charles Wright, 37, pleaded guilty in Benton County Circuit Court Monday Jan. 27 to cruelty to animals. He is ordered to complete one year suspended imposition of sentence, and 14 days in the Benton County Jail. He is also to continue mental health treatment.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Wright's wife came home July 23 to find her 6-year-old Yorkie, "barely responsive" with "bruising around his eye and an abrasion to the back of his head."

Veterinarians at Sugar Creek Animal Hospital in Bentonville found the dog had a “large fracture to the back of (his) skull slightly above the spine” and broken ribs that were healing.

A child at the residence said Wright took the dog from his kennel the day of the injury and took him outside. The child stayed inside, and a while later heard a yelp. A short time later, Wright returned with the dog and put him in the kennel, according to the affidavit.

The affidavit states Wright apologized to his wife, saying, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."