Man is charged with shooting at 7-year-old girl's dog

A Baldwin Park man accused of shooting at a 7-year-old girl’s barking dog in front of her and chasing the child into her home was charged Friday with six felony counts, including child abuse, authorities said.

Carleton Raye States, 31, allegedly shot at the neighbor's dog after taunting the animal Wednesday outside the girl’s home, prosecutors said. The dog was not harmed, however.

Prosecutors said the girl was playing outside her house with her dog, named Smalls, when States allegedly began taunting the animal. When the dog began to bark, States allegedly drew a handgun, prompting the girl to run inside her house, prosecutors said.

States then allegedly opened fire at the dog, prompting it to run inside the girl’s home.

Prosecutors allege that States then followed the girl and her pet inside the home, pointed the gun at the girl -– who was holding the dog in her lap -– and threatened to shoot the animal.

States was charged with two counts of felony child abuse and one count each of criminal threats, first-degree burglary with a person present, discharge of a firearm with gross negligence and having a concealed firearm. He was being held in custody on $270,000 bail.

If convicted as charged, States could face a maximum of 20 years and nine months in prison.

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-- Richard Winton