Plea deal in Montauk puppy abuse case

A Montauk man charged with kicking his puppy will not face jail time after working out a plea deal Thursday with an East Hampton town justice, Suffolk prosecutors said.

Daniel Vargus, 26, of West Lake Drive, pleaded guilty in East Hampton Town Court to animal cruelty for kicking his 6-month-old boxer puppy, James, in June. Vargus said he kicked the pup because the dog had run out of his yard while Vargus was shaving, prosecutors said.

Town Justice Lisa Rana promised to sentence Vargus on March 15 to 280 hours of community service and three years of probation. Prosecutors will ask that Vargus not be allowed to own a dog, a spokesman for the district attorney's office said.

Vargus had been charged with aggravated cruelty. That charge was dropped as part of the plea because the dog was not seriously injured, prosecutors said. James was adopted after the incident, prosecutors said.