EL CAJON, Calif. -- A man accused of kicking a neighbor's Chihuahua to death in an unprovoked burst of violence must stand trial on a charge of felony animal cruelty, a judge ruled Tuesday.
Troy Anthony Hilliard, 23, faces up to three years in prison if convicted, prosecutors said.
Following an afternoon preliminary hearing at the El Cajon courthouse, Judge Herbert Exarhos ruled that enough evidence was presented for Hilliard to stand trial April 9. A readiness conference was set for March 19.
Hilliard was arrested Feb. 2 in connection with the killing last month of the 4-year-old dog.
On Jan. 11, the tiny canine, named "Chico,'' wandered into a courtyard outside an apartment building in the 1100 block of East Lexington Avenue, near his owner's home.
Seeing the animal, Hilliard, who was visiting friends at the complex, allegedly ran at the dog and kicked him. The canine was knocked into a fence, after which Hilliard allegedly kicked him several more times before picking him up and throwing him over the fence. The animal died at the scene.
After interviewing numerous neighbors, detectives identified Hilliard as the alleged attacker.
There was no indication that the animal, which frequently visited the complex and played with children who lived there, did anything to provoke the violence, authorities said.
