Reno Dog Beheadings Case Likely Heading To Trial, Unless Plea Deal Is Struck

RENO, Nev. (AP) - A defense lawyer says a 24-year-old Reno man accused of killing and dismembering several dogs will go forward with a preliminary hearing if a plea deal can't be worked out with Washoe County prosecutors.

Jason Brown is scheduled to appear at a status Thursday in Reno Justice Court on seven felony counts of willfully torturing and killing dogs, and two methamphetamine possession charges.

Brown was arrested in July after detectives found a decapitated dog and four dog heads in a small refrigerator in his room at a Reno motel.

Defense attorney John Oakes tells the Reno Gazette-Journal he's trying to work out a "decent solution" before the 1:30 p.m. status hearing.

Oakes previously said Brown has mental health issues and may need a psychiatric evaluation.

If convicted of all counts, the former Reno High School student could face more than 20 years in prison.

A Sparks woman from Sun Valley told investigators she sold her two Chihuahuas to Brown in the days before he was arrested.

Police found two dog collars with rabies tags registered to those two dogs along with dog body parts and bloody knives at the gruesome crime scene at a Super 8 motel.

The discovery sparked outrage, and prompted animal protection activists to demonstrate outside the courthouse where Brown was due to appear in August with signs urging the maximum penalty.

A California woman, Cindy Baldwin of Portola, says she has collected more than 1,800 signatures on an online petition calling for longest prison sentence possible.

Brown is being held on a $70,000 cash bond.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.