(WWJ) He pleaded no contest to killing a red-nosed pit bull named Sterling -- burning his face with cigarettes and stabbing him to death -- and now a petition asks the judge to give dog killer Alexander Gerth the maximum sentence.
More than 3,000 people signed the petition in the first couple of days after it went live on change.org. Sign it HERE.
"We want animal offenders to receive the harshest penalties under the law. We need to continue to be Sterling's voice," the petition says.
An active Facebook group called Justice For Sterling is promoting the petition. They've already organized protests at Gerth's court appearances, and pushed for changes to Michigan law to create stiffer penalties for animal abusers.
Candace Shellnut, an admin of the group, wrote on the petition that, "We want Judge Caretti to make an example out of Gerth and "throw the book" at him. Let these sick criminal minded individuals know that this disgusting, cruel behavior will not be tolerated in our society anymore!! #SayNoToViolence #MurderIsMurder."
Gerth, 23, is charged with killing his two-year-old pitbull mix, Sterling, back in January.
Sterling was found with multiple stab wounds on Jan. 24, left underneath a picnic table, in below freezing temperatures in Grant Park in Utica. There was a trail of blood found leading from a nearby trash can to the location where Sterling died.
Officials say Sterling had been adopted and returned twice through the Michigan Humane Society before being adopted a third time in December. The Humane Society in Westland says Gerth tried to adopt the dog in December, but his application was denied. A few days later, another person went to the same shelter and had an interest in Sterling. That person was approved to adopt the dog, but it turns out Sterling was adopted under false pretenses, as someone else adopted him for Gerth.
Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith said Sterling was "maliciously tortured" and left to die in the elements. Public reaction was swift; Many people on social media threatened Gerth after the news broke in late January.
"My office is fully committed to prosecuting every animal abuse case to the fullest extent under the law," Smith said.
A rumor swirling on Facebook says Smith reached a plea deal with Gerth that would put him back on the streets in eight months -- but that's not true according to the Macomb County Prosecutors' Office.
His no contest plea does not reduce the sentence he faces in any way, a spokeswoman said.
Gerth is scheduled to be sentenced on April 23. He faces a four-year felony, and is being held in the Macomb County Jail on a $25,000 bond. He was also convicted of bank robbery in southern Illinois in 2014 when he was 18.
