A Columbia man was sentenced to five years in prison for the 2016 crime where he set his girlfriend's dog on fire in a church parking lot. Hykeem Dontavious Jabar Golson is just the second person in South Carolina to be sentenced to the maximum for felony animal cruelty. He was also sentenced to pay a $5,000 fine. The prosecutor for the case called the crime a "vengeful act".During the investigation, Golson admitted to the crime and authorities said he told a Richland County Sheriff's Department investigator, when asked if he was sorry, said: “Definitely, I feel sorry the dog did not light the first time.”The crime happened in November 2016 when Golson set the pit bull puppy on fire in the Grace United Methodist Church parking lot.A witness said he was walking his dogs in the neighborhood when he heard yelping noises and saw something on fire. He said he knew immediately it was an animal. He said the man burning the puppy began walking toward him so he rushed to get his animals to safety and called 911. Shortly after the witness called authorities, deputies said the man ran off. The 10-week-old puppy did not survive his injuries. Animal advocacy groups in the Midlands are championing this ruling. “It is a great day in South Carolina for our companion pets,” says Denise Wilkinson, CEO of Pawmetto Lifeline. “While an innocent life was lost in the most horrific manner, justice was delivered. We must continue to fight the fight and hold people accountable for these crimes.”Copyright 2017 WIS. All rights reserved.

A Columbia man was sentenced to five years in prison for the 2016 crime where he set his girlfriend's dog on fire in a church parking lot.

Hykeem Dontavious Jabar Golson is just the second person in South Carolina to be sentenced to the maximum for felony animal cruelty. He was also sentenced to pay a $5,000 fine.


The prosecutor for the case called the crime a "vengeful act".

During the investigation, Golson admitted to the crime and authorities said he told a Richland County Sheriff's Department investigator, when asked if he was sorry, said: “Definitely, I feel sorry the dog did not light the first time.”

The crime happened in November 2016 when Golson set the pit bull puppy on fire in the Grace United Methodist Church parking lot.

A witness said he was walking his dogs in the neighborhood when he heard yelping noises and saw something on fire. He said he knew immediately it was an animal. He said the man burning the puppy began walking toward him so he rushed to get his animals to safety and called 911.

Shortly after the witness called authorities, deputies said the man ran off.

The 10-week-old puppy did not survive his injuries.

Animal advocacy groups in the Midlands are championing this ruling.

“It is a great day in South Carolina for our companion pets,” says Denise Wilkinson, CEO of Pawmetto Lifeline. “While an innocent life was lost in the most horrific manner, justice was delivered. We must continue to fight the fight and hold people accountable for these crimes.”

Copyright 2017 WIS. All rights reserved.