Officials with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office charged a 30-year-old man Friday for allegedly beating his german shepherd, Kaiser, with a metal chain leash, according to a news release.

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Deputy District Attorney Emily Cole said Mohamad Taghavi, a Murrieta truck driver, faces one felony count of cruelty to an animal with the allegation that he used the chain as a deadly weapon.

Arraignment for the case was held at the San Fernando branch of the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Related: Man Arrested On Animal Cruelty Charge In Castaic

On Sept. 10, Taghavi punched his 3-year-old dog multiple times and struck him with a metal chain leash while at a food truck on Castaic Street in Castaic, the prosecutor said.

When Kaiser attempted to hide under the truck, the defendant yanked the chain multiple times causing the dog to whimper, the prosecutor added.

Several Santa Clarita Valley residents contacted the Sheriff’s Station and deputies arrested Taghavi on Wednesday, booking him on animal cruelty and drunk in public charges, officials said.

Deputies called Department of Animal Care and Control officials to the scene, and they took custody of the dog, said Deputy Josh Dubin of the Sheriff’s Station Crime Prevention Unit.

If convicted as charged Taghavi faces a maximum penalty of four years in state prison.

Kaiser is now being cared for by the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control.

The case remains under investigation by the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.

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