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CARLTON, Minn. -- A Ramsey County sheriff's deputy admitted Tuesday that he was "exceedingly drunk" when he was captured on video beating his police dog partner at a training event in Carlton County last summer.

Brett Arthur Berry, 48, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty at the hearing in State District Court.

Berry has been subject to intense criticism after the surveillance video was released and widely circulated through news outlets and social media. The video shows him repeatedly striking police dog partner Boone and slamming the dog into the ground on June 15 at Black Bear Casino Resort near Carlton..

Under questioning from defense attorney Kevin Short, Berry testified Tuesday that he was unable to recall details of the incident until he saw the video.

"Do you have any explanation for what prompted you to physically strike the dog?" Short asked.

"No," Berry replied softly, adding that he felt remorseful after viewing the video.

In exchange for the plea, Carlton County Attorney Thom Pertler agreed to drop an additional misdemeanor charge of assaulting a public safety dog.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Leslie Beiers ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for Feb. 17. Berry faces a maximum punishment of one year in jail and a $3,000 fine.

Berry was placed on administrative leave after the incident and Boone was taken from his custody. The Ramsey County Sheriff's Office said the dog was examined by a veterinarian and did not have any injuries.

Berry has since returned to work, pending the outcome of his criminal case, and is working in the agency's detention unit.

Short said after the hearing that his client is taking steps to resolve his alcohol issues and has accepted responsibility for his actions from the start.

"Despite all the vilifying of this man -- which is understandable for people who don't really understand what's going on -- we have a person who is a very good person, who has led an exemplary life, who is 48 years old and has never been charged with a crime and has done a lot of good things in his personal and professional life," Short said. "But he got very intoxicated and he struck his dog in a way that is inexcusable."

At sentencing, the attorney said he's confident that the "punishment will fit the crime."

"If striking a dog while you are drunk, which is not OK, is the worst thing that any human being does in their lifetime, then you've led a pretty good life," Short said. "I would challenge all the people who want to vilify him into being worse than a first-degree murderer to stand up and tell me that they have never done anything in their lifetime that egregious."

Animal rights activists have been in attendance at all of Berry's court appearances and have protested outside the courthouse.

Diane Parkhurst, a co-founder of the Friends of Animals organization in Cloquet, was among those who looked on as Berry pleaded guilty Tuesday.

"It's what I expected," Parkhurst said of the plea agreement. "We hoped for more, but I'm glad to see him accepting responsibility. Obviously, he has some issues that need to be dealt with."

Jan Stern, another activist who has been at all of Berry's hearings, said she believes Berry can continue to work in law enforcement -- just not as a police dog handler.

"I would not want to see that," she said. "I think he's lost that privilege. ... Boone wasn't just a dog; he's an officer."

With the guilty plea, Ramsey County Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. John Eastham said the agency will began an administrative review, which could lead to disciplinary action.

"We had to wait until completion of the criminal case," he said. "Now that there has been a plea, we're allowed to move forward with the internal investigation."

Short noted that Berry has lost income as a result of being removed from a police dog handler position, but said he could not speculate on any further consequences the deputy might face as a result of the conviction.