Man convicted in death of puppy thrown out of window

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A Springfield man accused of killing a puppy by throwing it out of a third-floor window has pleaded guilty.

The Springfield News-Leader reported 24-year-old William Rabourn pleaded guilty Tuesday to burglary, stealing an animal and animal abuse.

Prosecutors say Rabourn broke into the apartment of a woman who had broken up with him June 21. According to authorities, a witness saw Rabourn break into the apartment, take the 8-month-old Maltese-poodle mix that belonged to the woman and throw the puppy out of a window before running away.

Prosecutors say the woman had rebuffed unwanted advances from Rabourn that night when they were on a party bus.

Rabourn is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 22.

Information from: Springfield News-Leader, http://www.news-leader.com