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GREENSBORO — A man who beat and set on fire a mixed-breed pit bull puppy last summer was sentenced to serve six to eight months in prison for the crime after pleading guilty Monday afternoon.

Because he had a minimal criminal history, that’s all Lashawn Whitehead, 21, could serve under North Carolina’s structured sentencing guidelines.

The sentence relates to a charge of burning personal property, the dog. The felony animal abuse charge brought a sentence of probation, with a suspended sentence four to five months in prison he'll face if he violates his probation.

“I think there needs to be stiffer laws for animal cruelty,” said Donna Lawrence, owner of the dog, who has since been named Susie. “I think she was treated as personal property. She has feelings and emotions; she’s not personal property to me.”

Before a crowded courtroom, which included Susie, Whitehead pleaded guilty to burning personal property and felony animal cruelty Monday afternoon.

He also pleaded guilty to indecent liberties with a minor for fathering a child with a 15-year-old girl, breaking and entering, obtaining property by false pretense and marijuana charges.

In all, Judge Robby Hassell sentenced Whitehead to 21 to 26 months behind bars plus four years of probation. He could face an additional 10 to 13 months in prison if he violates the terms of that probation.

But for Lawrence and dozens of other supporters who packed the courtroom in support of Susie, a six- to eight-month sentence for beating and setting a dog on fire was not enough.

“People in this community are sick and tired of animal abuse and animal cruelty,” Lawrence said.

“Everyone loves this dog and wanted to see justice. This should wake people up that we need stiffer laws in North Carolina.”

In a statement he gave police after he turned himself in last November, Whitehead said he “just snapped” when he harmed the dog, which belonged to his girlfriend.

While at her house in late July, Whitehead said he woke in the middle of the night to find the dog licking the couple’s 1-month-old baby.

He grabbed the dog by its fur and put it in the backyard. He then grabbed a barbecue lighter and pressed a button to drip lighter fluid all over the dog’s body, according to the statement.

After holding her down and beating her for about 15 minutes, he set the dog on fire with a match.

Whitehead said he tried to put the fire out, but the dog — while on fire — ran into the woods.

She was found Aug. 20 in Greenfield Park by a man walking his dogs.

She was near death with second- and third-degree burns over 60 percent of her body and a broken jaw and teeth.

She was covered with maggots.

She had been in that condition for about two weeks, a veterinarian estimated.

The dog’s ears were singed off.

Whitehead did not speak in court Monday except to answer questions from Hassell about his plea.

His lawyer, Randle Jones, said his client is “deeply remorseful” for his actions.

“He snapped and couldn’t control his actions or his emotions,” Jones said. “He has no excuses.”

Whitehead’s mother, Sally Laws, attended the hearing but could not be reached for comment afterward.

In an interview in November, she said that she raised him as a good child and that “he was crying out for help.”

She said that he has suffered with mental illness triggered by watching his 8-year-old brother get struck and killed by a car when he was 7.

Though disappointed with the sentence, Susie’s supporters said it was a sign that state legislators need to act.

“Justice was not served today, and a few months of confinement will never come close to punishment for what this dog endured,” Bobbie Gardner said.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com