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Hourly Update

Man gets 30 days in jail, probation for shooting dog

By Kim Smith
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 02.20.2007
One of two men who pleaded guilty to repeatedly shooting a pit-bull mix near Redington Pass was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to serve 30 days in jail Tuesday.
Pima County Superior Court Judge Edgar Acuña also ordered Steven Sharpe, 28, to pay $1,846 in restitution and attend animal cruelty prevention classes. He also isn't allowed to acquire new pets and must license, spay or neuter, and vaccinate his current pets.
According to court records, Deborah Curren, 44, Justin Curren, 20, and Sharpe, their neighbor, were arrested in February 2005 several weeks after a 2-year-old pit-bull mix was found suffering from gunshot wounds near Redington Pass.
Justin Curren told police he and his mother decided their dog, Knuckles, was so vicious he needed to be put down.
The trio fed the dog morphine-laced pumpkin pie, but when he didn't die Justin Curren and Sharpe took the dog to Redington Pass armed with a rifle and two handguns.
The men tied the dog to a tree and fired at it from some distance away.
The dog broke free from the tree, only to run back to the defendants' car.
When the men fired at the dog again, he ran away for good.
The men said they looked for the dog again to finish the job, but couldn't find him.
Passersby took the dog to a veterinarian where he was dubbed "Bullet."
According to court documents, the dog had bullet wounds to his neck, back, face and legs.
An 88-CRIME tip led detectives to the Currens and a DNA test linked Bullet to other dogs in the Curren home.
Last month, Sharpe and Justin Curren both pleaded guilty to cruel mistreatment of an animal.
Deputy Pima County Attorney Kathleen Mayer told Acuña probation was an appropriate sentence for Sharpe, but urged him to give Sharpe more than the minimum five-day jail term allowed under the plea agreement.
The prosecutor said both Sharpe and Justin Curren have tried to downplay their actions, claiming they were trying to do the "right thing" when they attempted to kill the dog.
The whole incident came down to money, Mayer said.
They simply didn't want to pay the Pima Animal Care Center $15 for them to euthanize the dog, Mayer said.
Defense attorney Harold Higgins Jr. gave Acuña 10 letters from family and friends of Sharpe's that describe Sharpe as a kind and loving man who loves dogs, took care of his dying father at home and feels great remorse for what he's done.
Higgins called the shooting "misguided," adding, "Steven never set out to punish the dog or provide it pain and agony."
Justin Curren's sentencing, which had been scheduled for Tuesday, was postponed until Monday.
Deborah Curren, who is charged with conspiracy to commit animal cruelty and hindering prosecution, is scheduled to go to trial May. 15.
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