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Teens Accused Of Burning Dog Face A Judge

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Nov 3, 2009 5:30 pm US/Eastern

Teens Accused Of Burning Dog Face A Judge

Reporting
Derek Valcourt
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ― There are new developments in a shocking animal cruelty case.  A two-year-old pit bull was doused with gasoline, then set on fire and left to die in Baltimore City. The teenagers charged with the crime appeared before a judge Tuesday.

Derek Valcourt has details from court.

Defense attorneys tried to argue that since the twins were 17 at the time the dog was lit on fire, they should be tried as juveniles, but the judge ordered they be tried as adults.

In the city, they called her Phoenix.  In May, the pit bull was doused with gasoline and then set on fire.  An officer saw the dog on fire and ripped off her sweatshirt to put the flames out.  But the injuries were too severe and she had to be put down.

Prosecutors say evidence led them to Travers and Tremayne Johnson, 17-year-old twin brothers, who they say are members of the 1600 Boys gang.

Their father refused to answer questions when he left the courtroom Tuesday, but prosecutors say crime cameras captured most of the chaos of the burning dogs and the twins running from the scene.

The case sparked outrage across the country and in Baltimore, led to the creation of an anti-animal abuse task force, chaired by Caroline Griffin.

"Everyone agreed this was an absolutely horrific crime," she said.  "What impressed me is how seriously both the state's attorney's office is taking this and how seriously the court is taking this."

The twins both face charges of felony aggravated animal cruelty.  If convicted, they could face three years in prison.

Both teens are being held without bail.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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