Man who threw dog from car in Elmhurst pleads guilty

A Chicago man was spared jail time Tuesday after pleading guilty to throwing a puppy from his vehicle at a busy Elmhurst intersection.

Sergiu E. Muresan, 27, of the 2400 block of Greenshaw Avenue, pleaded guilty in DuPage County court to animal cruelty and was sentenced to a year of court supervision, a $100 fine and court costs. He also is barred from owning animals for a year and must attend counseling, according to a plea agreement.

Prosecutors said Muresan threw an 8-month-old puppy from his vehicle while stopped in traffic early Dec. 10 at North Avenue and Route 83 in Elmhurst. The white and black-spotted dog was rescued by someone who witnessed the incident.

Afterward, the puppy was taken into the care of humane society officials who named him Ralphie after the “Christmas Story” movie character. They later found the puppy a permanent home.

By pleading guilty, Muresan admitted he knew the dog “may suffer injury, hunger or exposure, and neglected to offer assistance when the dog became abandoned.” He declined to comment as he left court with his attorney.

DuPage Judge Brian Diamond, who accepted the plea agreement, said Muresan could have faced up to a year in jail and fines up to $2,500 if convicted of the misdemeanor charge at trial. Prosecutors said he had no prior criminal history.