Felony charge against Michigan man for dog death dropped

A Michigan man has had a serious charge against him dropped after a veterinarian could not confirm the cause of a dog's death. William John Kucharski, Jr., 48, was initially accused of strangling his father's dog. He has been sentenced to 63 days in jail, with credit for time already served. Kucharski faced a felony charge of third-degree killing of an animal and was labeled a habitual offender. However, officials decided to dismiss the more serious charge when the veterinarian's necropsy found that the dog suffered from chronic age-related issues, not strangulation. Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido emphasized the importance of making decisions based on truth and fairness. The case arose on January 16 when deputies were called to a home in Richmond Township. They found the Labrador Retriever dead, with Kucharski's arms around it. Additionally, Kucharski has an open warrant for other serious charges, including second-degree arson and assaulting a police officer. A probable cause hearing is scheduled for March 25.