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A 20-year-old Tucson man pleaded guilty to animal cruelty Tuesday in a high-profile dog-shooting case.

Justin Curren could receive three years' probation or up to two years in prison as a result of his guilty plea in the case of Bullet the dog.

If he's given probation, Curren also would receive up to 30 days in jail and be subject to unannounced visits from animal-control officers after he's released.

He wouldn't be allowed to acquire new pets and would have to license, spay or neuter, and vaccinate his current pets.

According to the Pima County Sheriff's Department, Deborah Linda Curren, 44, and Justin Curren, her son, decided to get rid of their 2-year-old pit-bull mix, Knuckles, in 2005 because they thought he was vicious.

Justin Curren and Steven Glenn Sharpe,28, are accused of taking the dog into the desert near Redington Pass and shooting him repeatedly.

The dog, who was rescued by a dirt-bike rider, was dubbed "Bullet" by detectives because of bullet fragments stuck under his skin.

The Currens and Sharpe were indicted after detectives received a tip and subsequent DNA testing linked the dog to other dogs owned by the Currens.

On Tuesday, Curren denied shooting the dog, but he admitted he inflicted pain on the dog by taking him out into the desert.

Last week, Sharpe entered the same deal given to Curren.

Deborah Curren turned down a plea agreement. Her trial is scheduled for May.

Justin Curren and Sharpe will be sentenced on Feb. 20.