Dog-Beater Found Guilty, Will Do Time

A Manassas man was found guilty Wednesday of kicking, punching and later abducting a dog from its owner's home. He offered no explanation for his actions other than saying he hated the animal, according to testimony heard Wednesday in a Manassas courtroom. 
 
Khanh Hong, 43, was found guilty of two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty involving dogs owned by a former girlfriend. The incidents include the April abduction of the two West Highland Terriers — Ozzy and Piper — with Piper dying and Ozzy suffering significant injuries. 

Judge Peter Steketee, handed down a sentence of 12 months for a misdemeanor animal cruelty charge in the April 17 abduction of Ozzy, along with 24 months of probation.

Hong still faces one felony count of animal torture in connection with Piper's death and abduction, as well as charges of burglary and larceny of animals. A grand jury will consider indictment on those charges Oct. 7. 

On Wednesday, Hong was also sentenced to 12 months, with nine months suspended, for a December incident when a neighbor saw Hong kicking and punching one of the dogs at a Manassas-area home on Copeland Drive.

In addition to jail time and probation, Hong is required to pay a total of $1,700 in restitution for Ozzy's treatment and the cost of Piper. He also isn't allowed to own any animals until he has completed a regime of professional counseling and treatment. 

Hong's lawyer, J. Andrew Taylor of Manassas, said he intends to appeal Wednesday's misdemeanor convictions. Hong was taken into custody on Wednesday and held on a $25,000 bond. 

Basement Abduction

According to police testimony Wednesday, Hong told interviewers that he'd been planning for a while to abduct and kill the dogs because he hated them.  

Hong is accused of entering the basement of the Copeland Drive home where Ozzy and Piper lived with their owner—Hong's neighbor and one-time romantic interest—and abducted the dogs in April. 

The two dogs had their legs bound with duct tape and they were placed in several trash bags, said Richard Martindell, a Prince William County Police detective who interviewed Hong during the investigation. Hong told Martindell that Piper bit him on the hand during the abduction. 

In his statement to police, Hong said he put both of the dogs in the trunk of his car and drove a little ways before throwing Piper out of the car.  Piper was later found dead inside a trash bag. 

Hong then allegedly drove to a dirt road in the Haymarket area where he chased Ozzy off after the dog made it out of the bag he was being held in. Betty Blankenship testified Wednesday that she saw Hong drive by in his car, and soon after caught sight of the injured dog in the road.

Ethan H. Morris, a Manassas surgical veterinarian who treated Ozzy after his abduction, said it was one of the worst injuries he'd seen in his 13 years of practicing medicine. The dog's leg was injured by some sort of blunt force trauma, Morris said, such as being kicked or struck by an object.