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A Niagara man was charged Tuesday with felony animal mistreatment after he allegedly killed a young goat in front of co-workers last week in the parking lot of the company where he worked because he couldn’t find a place to keep the goat while he was at work.

Phillip R. Pardee, 24, told police he knew it was illegal to smash the goat’s head on the pavement outside Madison-Kipp’s Sun Prairie facility on Friday night but it was easier than dealing with not having a place for the goat to stay while he was at work, according to a criminal complaint filed in Dane County Circuit Court.

Pardee was released on a signature bond after appearing in court on Tuesday and was ordered not to keep any other animals or pets.

If convicted, he faces up to 3½ years of combined prison and extended supervision.

According to the complaint:

A manager at Kipp told police that Pardee had been bringing the goat to work for a while, but on Friday he locked his keys in his car and could not put the goat inside. He said Pardee put the goat into some crates but it escaped and was caught by another employee.