Donovan Baltzley pleads guilty in animal cruelty case

A Humboldt County man pleaded guilty Thursday to 3 counts of animal cruelty charges and this isn't his first time committing the offense. The court was in the process of selecting a jury for Donovan Baltzley when he plead guilty to killing two dogs and injuring one other. The 21-year-old is already on probation for a similar case 2 years ago where he pled guilty to killing his ex-girlfriend's family dog. Prior to the guilty plea Thursday, the prosecutor petitioned the court to have Baltzley's previous conviction presented to the jury because he felt it was the same pattern of behavior. District Attorney Paul Gallegos says Baltzley was sentenced to the maximum term of 5 years in prison.