Topline: Jeffrey Lentz faces trial on animal cruelty and weapons charges after rejecting a plea deal earlier this month.
Published: January 29, 2026 8:24 am ET
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Left: Jeffrey Lentz, Right: Ruby (via Ocean County Jail/Justice for Ruby)
OCEAN COUNTY, NJ — A New Jersey man accused of shooting his stepdaughter’s French bulldog rejected a plea deal, sending the case to trial and sparking courthouse protests.
Jeffrey Lentz, 56, of New Jersey, was arrested in November 2025 after police alleged he shot his stepdaughter’s dog, Ruby, in the face. Authorities reported the incident happened last October while Lentz and his wife were caring for the animal as the dog’s owners attended a wedding, according to NJ.com.
Lentz has pleaded not guilty and faces charges of animal cruelty, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and possession of a large-capacity magazine, according to Jersey Online.
Authorities said Lentz initially told his stepdaughter, Nicole Guarino, that Ruby had been injured in an animal attack. A veterinarian later found a bullet lodged in the dog’s jaw, leading to Lentz’s arrest days later.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office offered Lentz a plea deal that would have sentenced him to five years in prison in exchange for pleading guilty to animal cruelty and weapons charges. Lentz rejected the deal earlier this month, sending the case to a jury trial.
Guarino, Ruby’s owner, attended the hearing with her husband, Nick, and spoke to Jersey Online about her frustration. “I trusted them. What daughter wouldn’t trust her parents?” she said. “She wasn’t property. She was family. She was like our child.”
Following the hearing, Guarino led protesters outside the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, calling for authorities to pursue the maximum sentence against Lentz. Demonstrators carried signs reading “Justice 4 Ruby” and “Maximum Sentence,” according to a video aired by News 12 New Jersey.
“All I want is my dog back and she’s not coming back,” Guarino said in a tearful interview outside the prosecutor’s office. “This is all we can do, is to try to make sure her life mattered.”
The case has drawn attention from animal rights advocates and community members who say the charges highlight the seriousness of animal cruelty crimes. Protesters have continued to gather in support of Guarino, demanding accountability as the case moves forward.
According to NJ.com, Lentz remains charged with animal cruelty, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and possession of a large-capacity magazine. The case is expected to proceed to trial following his rejection of the plea deal.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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New Jersey Man Faces Trial After Allegedly Shooting Stepdaughter’s French Bulldog
Jeffrey Lentz faces trial on animal cruelty and weapons charges after rejecting a plea deal earlier this month.
By Kate Byrd
Published: January 29, 2026 8:24 am ET
Left: Jeffrey Lentz, Right: Ruby (via Ocean County Jail/Justice for Ruby)
OCEAN COUNTY, NJ — A New Jersey man accused of shooting his stepdaughter’s French bulldog rejected a plea deal, sending the case to trial and sparking courthouse protests.
Jeffrey Lentz, 56, of New Jersey, was arrested in November 2025 after police alleged he shot his stepdaughter’s dog, Ruby, in the face. Authorities reported the incident happened last October while Lentz and his wife were caring for the animal as the dog’s owners attended a wedding, according to NJ.com.
Lentz has pleaded not guilty and faces charges of animal cruelty, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and possession of a large-capacity magazine, according to Jersey Online.
Authorities said Lentz initially told his stepdaughter, Nicole Guarino, that Ruby had been injured in an animal attack. A veterinarian later found a bullet lodged in the dog’s jaw, leading to Lentz’s arrest days later.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office offered Lentz a plea deal that would have sentenced him to five years in prison in exchange for pleading guilty to animal cruelty and weapons charges. Lentz rejected the deal earlier this month, sending the case to a jury trial.
Guarino, Ruby’s owner, attended the hearing with her husband, Nick, and spoke to Jersey Online about her frustration. “I trusted them. What daughter wouldn’t trust her parents?” she said. “She wasn’t property. She was family. She was like our child.”
Following the hearing, Guarino led protesters outside the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, calling for authorities to pursue the maximum sentence against Lentz. Demonstrators carried signs reading “Justice 4 Ruby” and “Maximum Sentence,” according to a video aired by News 12 New Jersey.
“All I want is my dog back and she’s not coming back,” Guarino said in a tearful interview outside the prosecutor’s office. “This is all we can do, is to try to make sure her life mattered.”
The case has drawn attention from animal rights advocates and community members who say the charges highlight the seriousness of animal cruelty crimes. Protesters have continued to gather in support of Guarino, demanding accountability as the case moves forward.
According to NJ.com, Lentz remains charged with animal cruelty, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and possession of a large-capacity magazine. The case is expected to proceed to trial following his rejection of the plea deal.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
New Jersey Man Faces Trial After Allegedly Shooting Stepdaughter’s French Bulldog
Jeffrey Lentz faces trial on animal cruelty and weapons charges after rejecting a plea deal earlier this month.
By Kate Byrd
Published: January 29, 2026 8:24 am ET
Left: Jeffrey Lentz, Right: Ruby (via Ocean County Jail/Justice for Ruby)
OCEAN COUNTY, NJ — A New Jersey man accused of shooting his stepdaughter’s French bulldog rejected a plea deal, sending the case to trial and sparking courthouse protests.
Jeffrey Lentz, 56, of New Jersey, was arrested in November 2025 after police alleged he shot his stepdaughter’s dog, Ruby, in the face. Authorities reported the incident happened last October while Lentz and his wife were caring for the animal as the dog’s owners attended a wedding, according to NJ.com.
Lentz has pleaded not guilty and faces charges of animal cruelty, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and possession of a large-capacity magazine, according to Jersey Online.
Authorities said Lentz initially told his stepdaughter, Nicole Guarino, that Ruby had been injured in an animal attack. A veterinarian later found a bullet lodged in the dog’s jaw, leading to Lentz’s arrest days later.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office offered Lentz a plea deal that would have sentenced him to five years in prison in exchange for pleading guilty to animal cruelty and weapons charges. Lentz rejected the deal earlier this month, sending the case to a jury trial.
Guarino, Ruby’s owner, attended the hearing with her husband, Nick, and spoke to Jersey Online about her frustration. “I trusted them. What daughter wouldn’t trust her parents?” she said. “She wasn’t property. She was family. She was like our child.”
Following the hearing, Guarino led protesters outside the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, calling for authorities to pursue the maximum sentence against Lentz. Demonstrators carried signs reading “Justice 4 Ruby” and “Maximum Sentence,” according to a video aired by News 12 New Jersey.
“All I want is my dog back and she’s not coming back,” Guarino said in a tearful interview outside the prosecutor’s office. “This is all we can do, is to try to make sure her life mattered.”
The case has drawn attention from animal rights advocates and community members who say the charges highlight the seriousness of animal cruelty crimes. Protesters have continued to gather in support of Guarino, demanding accountability as the case moves forward.
According to NJ.com, Lentz remains charged with animal cruelty, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and possession of a large-capacity magazine. The case is expected to proceed to trial following his rejection of the plea deal.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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