Lee County, Ala. (WRBL) – A Columbus, Georgia man has been convicted of animal cruelty after a brutal stabbing left his dog severely injured. The case, which involved a dog named Hank being stabbed 22 times, drew widespread attention for the disturbing nature of the crime. Following a thorough investigation and trial, the defendant, Andrew Childs, now faces jail time and restitution payments for his actions.
Prosecutors say this week on October 8, 2024, Lee County Circuit Court Judge Jeff Tickal sentenced Childs to four years, splitting the sentence so Childs will serve six months in jail followed by three years of supervised probation. Childs was also ordered to pay $12,904 in restitution, which he completed just prior to sentencing.
The sentencing follows a bench trial where Childs was convicted of Cruelty to a Dog in the First Degree. On October 22, 2021 The Lee County Sheriff’s Office received a call reporting an injured dog at a business off US Highway 280 in Smiths Station, Alabama. A Lee County Animal Control officer found the dog close to death, under a car surrounded by a large amount of blood. The dog had been stabbed multiple times.