POINT PLEASANT — Last year, a domestic violence call ended with the arrest of a Hurricane man on an animal cruelty charge after he beat eight puppies to death and discarded their bodies in a trash can.

On Monday, Joey K. Jeffery, appearing before Judge David Nibert, was sentenced to one to five years in a West Virginia Correctional facility and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine in the death of the animals. Jeffery also has been given credit for time served.

In February 2008, a deputy with the Mason County Sheriff’s Department responded to a home in Leon for a domestic disturbance between Jeffery and his girlfriend. Upon his investigation, the deputy found eight dead puppies that looked like they had been beaten with a hammer or other blunt-force object inside a trash can.

Jeffery allegedly beat the animals in front of his girlfriend’s children before putting the puppies’ bodies in the trash can.

His attorney, Craig Tatterson, said Jeffery had told him that he had entered the home and found dog feces everywhere and that the children were playing in it and putting it in their mouths.

Jeffery also told Tatterson that he lost his temper and began beating the dogs until he killed them.

Tatterson asked that his client be given probation or home confinement because he is caring for his elderly mother. Jeffery’s sister, Marvella Jones, also asked the court for lenience and said the family did not know how they could care for their mother since he was her care provider.

Nibert denied the motion and had Jeffery remanded to custody.

In addition to the prison sentence, Nibert ordered that Jeffery may not own an animal for 15 years.

Others who appeared before Nibert and were sentenced included a father and son who were charged with possession and delivery of a controlled substance.

Michael Allen Rainey Jr. of Apple Grove said he accepted responsibility for his actions of selling marijuana.

His attorney, James Casey, asked that he be given probation or home confinement because he had a job and family. Rainey was facing one to five years of incarceration in a penitentiary.

Nibert said probation was not appropriate for the charge and denied the request, but granted Rainey home confinement for incarceration as well as a $5,000 fine.

Rainey, along with his father, Michael Allen Rainey, was arrested in May 2008 when deputies found more than 2,500 prescription pills as well as $40,000 during an investigation of an alleged prescription pill drug ring.

The elder Rainey’s sentencing was continued, as he will be having a medical procedure done out of town later this month.

• John Franklin Hill of Gallipolis Ferry was sentenced 1-10 years in a penitentiary for grand larceny as well as one to three years for driving revoked for DUI - third offense to be served consecutively. At the same time, he is to serve a one-year sentence of DUI - second offense and pay a $3,000 fine.

The grand larceny charge stems from when Hill and Christopher Sturgeon allegedly broke into an outbuilding where items for a local fire department were kept and took several items.

Tatterson, Hill’s attorney, asked Nibert for home confinement because Hill helped recover the items that were taken, but Nibert said he was not inclined to grant an alternative sentence but would take it under advisement. He was granted credit for time served.

• After a preliminary report, it was found that David Nott of Point Pleasant had the capacity to assist counsel in his defense in preparation for trial April 7.

• Glenn Jenkins of Culloden waived his hearing for probation revocation and is to serve the remainder of his sentence on home confinement in Cabell County if approved.

• Bessie Ann Meeks of Gallipolis Ferry received three years of probation and 120 hours of community service as well as litter control for delivery of a controlled substance.

• David Hall Smith received a suspended sentence of six months in jail for two years of unsupervised probation and forfeiture of property that was seized for possession of a controlled substance - marijuana.

• Kevin Overmyer of Point Pleasant had his probation revoked on a violation of terms and will serve the remainder of his sentence on home confinement.

• Brad Eugene Adler was sentenced 1-15 years in the penitentiary for burglary and must pay restitution. He also was given credit for time served.