Harrison Thorp 8:50 a.m.
Tuesday, March 26, 2019 8:49 am
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DOVER - A Rochester man was sentenced to six months in county jail on Thursday after pleading guilty to simple assault and criminal trespass against a domestic partner in Rochester in November.
But Gage White, whose 2017 animal cruelty arrest for allegedly tasing his dog drew widespread condemnation and notoriety, faces even more legal jeopardy when his trial on those charges finally begins on April 2 in Rochester District Court.
As part of the domestic violence plea, White, 23, will have to participate in all counseling, treatment and education program as directed by corrections personnel. White also was credited with 99 days of pretrial confinement, so he should be out in less than three months.
A felony second-degree strangulation assault charge was nol prossed as part of Thursday's plea.
Meanwhile, White, who is now listed as a Rochester transient, faces up to a year in prison for two animal cruelty and one simple assault charge in connection with the tasing incident, which occurred at White's former residence at Amazon Park on Whitehouse Road.
When officers arrived to investigate the Oct. 15, 2017, incident, witnesses described seeing White use a stun gun to "discipline" the pooch, named Cario, according to police.
Officers immediately noticed that Cario, a mastiff mix, was fearful around her owner, putting "her tail between her legs," leading to the dog being seized by police and sent to be evaluated at Rochester Veterinary Clinic, where she was deemed OK.
White was initially charged with Class B misdemeanors, which carry a large fine but no jail time, but prosecutors later upgraded a charge to simple assault Class A, which carries up to a year in jail.