Pennsylvania woman gets 12 years for stabbing dog to death and biting two people after breaking into home

PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES: Breanna Englert, a 26-year-old woman from Pennsylvania, has confessed to unlawfully entering a family's residence, where she fatally stabbed their dog and bit two individuals, necessitating medical intervention.

Englert, who is also recognized by a 'Lady Justice' tattoo on her neck, pleaded guilty to the charges filed against her..

On Tuesday, Clinton County Court of Common Pleas Judge Michael F Salisbury mandated a sentence of up to 12 years in a state correctional facility for Breanna Englert.

This comes after her admission of guilt to charges that include criminal trespass, cruelty to animals, and making terroristic threats, according to authorities.

What happened at crime scene?

According to a press release from the Clinton County District Attorney’s Office, troopers from the Lamar division of the Pennsylvania State Police responded to an emergency 911 call in April regarding a home invasion at a residence in the 300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue in South Renovo, approximately 165 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

Upon their arrival, first responders discovered Englert at the scene and promptly placed her under arrest. Authorities reported that she forcibly entered the home and was immediately confronted by both the homeowners and a neighbor.

Englert assaulted the homeowner’s dog with a knife and bit two of the victims, necessitating medical attention.

Shortly after the incident, the victims' dog experienced seizures and succumbed to them. The release indicates that Englert was suspected to be under the influence of controlled substances at the time.

How many years is Breanna Englert sentenced to jail?

During Wednesday's sentencing hearing, Clinton County District Attorney Dave Strouse argued for a severe punishment for Breanna Englert, urging the court to impose the maximum sentence of 25 years.

Strouse emphasized that Englert should consider herself fortunate to be alive, as breaking into many other homes in Clinton County might have had fatal consequences. 

He cited what he characterized as a "documented history of violent criminal behavior" dating back to 2019, highlighting two assault convictions. Additionally, Strouse noted that Englert was on supervised release with the Clinton County Adult Probation Department at the time of the attack.

Prosecutors opposed allowing Englert to enter an early-release program, advocating for a strong statement from the court against home invasion and the terrorization of innocent people.

Before sentencing, a retired school teacher, one of Englert's victims, addressed her in court, expressing the impact of the intrusion and stating, "You invited us into your world; we never invited you into ours. You broke into our house with a knife." 

Further, the victim credited neighbors with potentially saving their lives that night and mentioned the lasting trauma on her grandchildren.

In response, Englert, tearfully speaking in her defense, apologized to the victims and requested the court to allow her to complete drug treatment programs instead of serving time in prison. She attributed her criminal past to prescription drug abuse and methamphetamine use.

However, the court remained unmoved. Judge Salisbury asserted that Englert needed a severe object lesson, insisting that any lesser sentence would be an injustice and likely result in her re-offending.

Englert pleaded guilty to two counts of recklessly endangering another person, two counts of simple assault, and one count of resisting arrest. She will be eligible for parole after serving 3 1/2 years of her sentence as per Law&Crime.