Alleged Dog-Killing Ex-Con Stands Before Judge

An ex-convict charged with blowing the face off a pit bull with fireworks he tossed to the dog appeared before a Will County judge Monday morning.

Nicholas Garcia, 24, was arraigned in front of Judge Dave Carlson. Garcia faces charges of criminal damage to property for allegedly killing the pit bull.

Garcia and another man were allegedly lighting off fireworks in a Jackson Street alley last month when a pit bull picked one up. The firework reportedly went off in the dog’s mouth, killing it.

Garcia intentionally tossed the fireworks so the dog would chase them and pick them up, police said

The man lighting fireworks in the alley with Garcia will not be charged in connection with the pit bull’s gruesome death, according to a police source.

Garcia was less than remorseful about the dog’s demise, according to a screenshot of his Facebook page posted by a Patch reader.

“Lightin off the rest of my fireworks n the rerarded neighbors that dont know how to put their dog on leash or keep it fenced in decides to chase a boom stick and lost its head…..NOW they care about their dog,” Garcia’s post said, according to the screenshot.

Garcia was arrested on an armed robbery charge when he was 17 years old, according to court records. He pleaded guilty, was sentenced to seven years in prison, and was released three years later.

The pit bull was worth more than $300, according to the criminal complaint filed against Garcia. The owner of the $300 pit bull reportedly witnessed his d

og’s death.

Garcia kept himself out of the county jail by posting his $5,000 cash bail when he surrendered at the Joliet Police Department. He remains out of custody while his case is pending.