A 26-year-old Lake Charles man has been accused of aggravated cruelty to animals after the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office received a cruelty complaint on March 17.

Spokesperson Kayla Vincent said when deputies arrived at the home on E. Opelousas Street to investigate the complaint, Estevan E. Pappion, told them he had found one of his dogs fatally shot inside.

Vincent said he told deputies he did not go inside but had only shut the door and called law enforcement.

“Pappion stated to deputies he had shot the dog,” Vincent said.

He was arrested and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center and charged with aggravated cruelty to animals; and criminal mischief.

He was later released on a $45,500 bond set by Judge Tony Fazzio.

CPSO Deputy Hunter Keehnen is the arresting deputy on this case.  CPSO Detective Jill Feverjean is the lead investigator on this case.