SGF man pleads guilty to throwing puppy from balcony, family still furious
A Springfield man is awaiting punishment after admitting Tuesday he broke into a woman's apartment, stole her puppy and then killed the small dog by throwing it out of a third-floor window.
William Rabourn, 24, waived his scheduled bench trial and pleaded guilty Tuesday to burglary, stealing an animal and animal abuse after killing an 8-month-old maltese-poodle mix that belonged to a woman who broke up with him.
A judge will sentence Rabourn on Jan. 22. He faces up to 7 years in prison on the burglary charge.
The victim, Gabrielle Ervie, attended Tuesday's court appearance. She said she is concerned Rabourn will receive too light a sentence.
"He's not sorry or remorseful," Ervie said. "We're scared it is going to be a human being next."
When police arrived at Ervie's apartment on the 900 block of East Elm Street after midnight on June 21, they came upon a group of people huddled around a small white dog named Oliver that was dead on the sidewalk.
A witness saw Rabourn kick in Ervie's apartment door, walk in, take the dog and throw it overhand out of a window before running away.
Rabourn and Ervie had been in a short romantic relationship, which Ervie ended. Ervie told police Rabourn had made unwanted advances on her that night when they were on a party bus.
Rabourn also sent Ervie a text message saying "I'm about to f*** your life up forever."
Court documents say police interviewed Rabourn after the incident and he admitted getting into an argument with Ervie. When police brought up the dog, Rabourn asked for an attorney.
Police checked the distance from the window where the dog was thrown to the ground, and measured it at about 46 feet, according to court documents.
Rabourn's attorney Thomas Carver said the Rabourn family did not wish to comment at this time.
When the judge asked Rabourn if the facts of the case read in court were accurate, he paused before saying: "Yes."
That stood out to Ervie.
"What bothered me is Tripp (Rabourn) was sitting there smirking and had to hesitate to plead guilty," Ervie said. "He was very arrogant."
Ervie's mother, Debbie, said the incident last summer could have been much worse if her daughter was home. She said she hopes Rabourn ends up behind bars.
"Your community should be very concerned if he is walking the streets," Debbie said. "He is a danger."
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