Man Found Not Guilty Of Killing Girlfriend's Dog

VENTURA (AP) — A Ventura County man was found not guilty of using a shotgun to kill his girlfriends dog, but was convicted of driving under the influence and other charges.

A Superior Court jury Friday found Jeffrey Grose guilty of drunken driving, hit and run, and felony illegal possession of a weapon.

Groses lawyer told jurors that his client shot the dog because it was a dangerous and unpredictable animal that had bitten him in the face.

Prosecutors said Grose killed the female dog named Darla in 2008 because he felt his girlfriend was ignoring him.

According to prosecutors, Grose had a blood-alcohol level of 0.27 -- more than three times the legal limit -- after the dog was killed and he drove away.

The Ventura County Star says Grose had been convicted earlier of domestic violence, and as part of his probation terms could not possess a weapon.

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