Louisiana men admit beating calf to death

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COVINGTON, La., Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Three Louisiana men have admitted stealing a newborn calf and beating it to death last year after a night of drinking at a football party.

Dwayne Jenkins, David LeBlanc Jr. and Carnie Smith stole the 3-day-old animal from Red Bluff Farm near Folsom and dragged it to an apartment complex where a New Orleans Saints-watching party had taken place Dec. 19, The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune reported.

In the parking lot, angered by the Saints' loss to the Dallas Cowboys, they beat the calf to death with shovels, authorities said.

On Monday, Jenkins, 36, of Mandeville, and LeBlanc, 22, of Gibson, pleaded guilty to aggravated cruelty to animals and theft of livestock. Smith, 29, of Covington, pleaded guilty to aggravated cruelty to animals and theft of livestock last week.

LeBlanc's sentencing was postponed, but Judge Martin Coady sentenced Jenkins to five years of probation and to help pay restitution for the animal.

Smith also got five years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution.

Christopher Murphy, 27, of Franklinton, who removed the carcass and dumped it, admitted a reduced charge of misdemeanor theft and got two years of probation.