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Man accused of animal cruelty receives sentence

Both sides of this case had plenty to say.

The defense asked the judge for probation. The prosecution wanted jail time.

Samuel Sanders, surrounded by family, won't spend any time in jail on charges of second degree animal cruelty and filing a false police report.

Instead, a judge placed him on a total of 4 years probation.

Sanders testified during his trial back in March that he wrapped Lucky the dog's snout with duct tape, put him in a garbage bag, and placed him in a trash bin.

Sanders' Attorney Scott Anderson says his client deserves credit for a clean past and shouldn't do time for a first offense.

"I told a jury Sam is a good person. I told the court that today. I proved it," says Anderson.

Dr. Steve Osborne, the veterinarian who took care of Lucky, believes Sanders' punishment should have been tougher.

Osborne and others in support of Lucky sent letters asking that Sanders serve the maximum sentence.

Osborne says the punishment, in this case, doesn't fit the crime.

"From the very beginning he was trying to do everything he could to get out of trouble. What was going on the court complexity let him get away with it," says Osborne.

Sanders was also sentenced to 200 hours community service and he must pay $4,000 in fines and another $2,000 in restitution.