WOODLAND, Wash., April 2 (UPI) -- A man was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in jail for snatching and holding for ransom a Washington state woman's English bulldog that was later found dead.
Johnny Lee Jordan, 39, of Longview was given a 41-month prison term Friday for second-degree theft and second-degree extortion by Cowlitz Superior Court Judge Michael Evans, The (Longview) Daily News reported. Jordan also is to pay restitution.
Jordan pleaded guilty in February to participating in the theft of Jagger the bulldog and working with others to extort money from the dog's owner, Jennifer Thomas of Woodland. Jordan's girlfriend, Ivy Rose Svaleson, 24, Longview, and a friend, Jesse James Clark, 38, of Kelso, face trial on related charges this month.
Thomas, who was at the sentencing hearing, said Jordan tried to blame others for the crime.
"He supposedly was apologizing but he didn't look at us," she said. "He tried to blame it on somebody else. He said, 'I'll admit to my part of it but there was another person.'"
Jagger, a 2-year-old English bulldog, was stolen from Thomas' yard Oct. 2. Thomas told investigators she began receiving text messages Oct. 6 demanding prescription drugs and cash in exchange for her dog.
The dog was found dead Oct. 24.
The cause of death was left undetermined, though a veterinarian Thomas hired concluded Jagger had been tortured.
Prosecutor Sue Baur said she was pleased with the sentence.
"We are taking this very seriously," she said. "The outcome, 41 months, is a long time. We're not taking this lightly because it's a dog ... . It's a shameful act."
