TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A Tallahassee man could be facing years in prison after being found guilty of killing one puppy and abusing several others during a fight with his son.
Efrem Zoran Johnson, 57, received the guilty verdict Thursday in the Leon County Circuit Court.
He was found guilty on four counts of animal cruelty, one count of the improper exhibition of a weapon and one count of carrying a concealed weapon by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Johnson injured the puppies during a fight with his son in July 2017. Documents say Efrem threw three pitbull puppies from a garage and stepped on two other pit puppies.
Efrem's aggravated assault charge for the fight with his son was amended to the improper exhibition and carrying a concealed weapon by a convicted felon charges.
Sentencing is set for September 14, 2018.
Tallahassee father and son arrested after fight leads to puppy's death
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A Tallahassee father and son are behind bars after police say they got into a fight and the father began throwing puppies from the home.
Efrem and Alfrem Johnson were both arrested on Monday.
According to court documents, Alfrem and his father, Efrem, were inside their garage when they started arguing. The argument began to get heated, and eventually witnesses stepped in between them to try to separate them.
Documents say that while witnesses were holding Efrem back from Alfrem, Alfrem picked up a wooden "baby gate" and hit his father in the head, causing him to fall to the ground.
Efrem then got off the ground, went inside the home and grabbed a kitchen knife, according to an arrest report.
Police say that Efrem told them that "since I couldn't get to him (Alfrem) I was going to take it out on his puppies." He tried to stab Alfrem's two older pitbulls, but couldn't catch them, so he grabed five of Alfrem's puppies.
Documents say Efrem threw three of the pitbull puppies from the garage to an area across the street. He then stepped on two of the puppies. After that, he ran back inside and grabbed two more knives.
During the time that Efrem was throwing the puppies, Alfrem told police that he had grabbed a shovel and a post digger and broke the windows out of Efrem's car. Alfrem said he then went to check on the puppies.
According to court documents, police arrived to the scene and saw Alfrem chasing after Efrem. Police stopped Efrem before he hurt his son, handcuffing him. He was later transported to the hospital for his injuries from the fight with Alfrem.
Alfrem was also arrested and taken to Leon County Jail where they both remain on bond.
Animal Control was called for the puppies, Documents say that one of the puppies died from its injuries and the remaining puppies, who were all injured, were taken by an animal control officer. Officers also took pictures of the damage to Efrem's car and the puppies.
Alfrem was charged with domestic battery and criminal mischief.
Efrem was charged with seven counts of animal cruelty and aggravated assault. He had previously been charged in Miami-Dade for attempted 2nd degree murder.
