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UPDATE: Man pleads 'no contest' in animal cruelty case

Posted at 10:03 AM, Feb 23, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-23 10:03:14-05

EATON COUNTY, Mich. — Eaton County Circuit Court is looking into a matter of animal cruelty.

Israel Juan-Phillip Lerma went in in front of Judge John Maurer for a status conference on Friday, Feb. 22.

FOX 47's Alani Letang was there to find out more about the alleged animal cruelty charge that Lerma is facing.

Israel Lerma pled no contest.

A no-contest plea, while not technically a guilty plea, has the same immediate effect as a guilty plea and is often offered a part of a plea bargain.

Lerma is scheduled for sentencing on April 11 at 8:30 AM.

The Eaton County Sheriff's office is handling the case of domestic assault and animal cruelty, according to documents.

The incident happened in October 2018.