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A clean-shaven, somber Cruz-Padro waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday afternoon in York District Court. . Cruz-Padro is charged with misdemeanor cruelty to animals and faces probation to at least several months in county prison. Cruz-Padro also was convicted of summary harassment charges for hitting two women in April 2014.

(York police)

YORK -- The 28-year-old York man caught on camera severely beating a dog in December appeared in court for the animal cruelty charge.

"I think this case is headed toward a guilty plea," said David Erhard, the attorney for Luis Junior Cruz-Padro. "He's absolutely sorry."

A clean-shaven, somber Cruz-Padro waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday afternoon in York District Court. Cruz-Padro is charged with misdemeanor cruelty to animals and faces probation to at least several months in county prison, Erhard told reporters following the waived hearing.

Erhard noted that the terms of a plea deal must be determined by the district attorney's office, but said he is working to prevent his client from serving any prison time.

Police obtained an arrest warrant and began their search for Luis Junior Cruz-Padro, 28, on Dec. 16 after a neighbor recorded the incident and posted it online. The video went viral.

The 21/2-minute video shows Cruz-Padro punching the dog several times, just before he whipped the white-colored pit bull with a strap-like object, according to the county district attorney's office. He also tied the dog to a post to keep it from getting away during the beating, according to the allegations.

SPCA saw the footage on Dec. 14, which prompted an investigation into the incident. County animal control filed the charges last week, and police issued a warrant for his arrest.

The SPCA seized the dog in the video, named "Bugz," and a pit bull puppy also living at the home following the incident. SPCA provided Bugz treatment, and the puppy was not injured.

"Unfortunately for him what was caught on video was one of the worst moments in his life," Erhard said. "That's not indicative of him as a person."

Erhard said Cruz-Padro loves the dog, adding that the moment was a "real breakdown." Erhard declined to disclose why Cruz-Padro hit the dog because he doesn't want to jeopardize his client's defense. He added that his client is taking full responsibility for the incident.

Several members of York police were at the office for Magisterial District Judge Ronald J. Haskell Jr. for safety reasons. Erhard said Cruz-Padro has received threats against he and his family as a result of the incident.

The case will proceed to Lancaster County Court where Cruz-Padro will be formally arraigned at 9 a.m. Feb. 12. Cruz-Padro remains free on $15,000 unsecured bail.