ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. - An Orange County Fire Authority employee is facing criminal charges for allegedly shooting his 4-year-old pit bull to death and dumping the canine's carcass in a trash bin at his workplace in Irvine.
Ryan John Monteleone, 44, of Menifee, is a heavy fire equipment operator and has worked for the fire authority for four years.
Monteleone is charged with a felony count of cruelty to animals and a misdemeanor count of dumping an animal carcass.
He was arrested by Irvine police on Oct. 17, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
A Waste Management trash truck driver found the dog's body inside the trash bin at a fire station on Fossil Road in Irvine on Aug. 9. The
dog had been shot in the head, officials said.
Monteleone is scheduled to be arraigned Dec. 2 at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach. He could face up to 3 1/2 years in custody if convicted at trial.
CNS contributed to this report