Salem man gets 4-years in prison for choking dog to death in domestic violence attack

A Salem man was sentenced to four years in prison Friday for choking his girlfriend's dog to death during a domestic violence attack inside an RV while high on meth. 

Richard Lipps, 51, also was sentenced for trying to bite and head-butt a Marion County deputy during his arrest. 

In a letter to his girlfriend read aloud in court, Lipps apologized for "any fear or terror" he may have caused. 

"You don't deserve to be treated that way," he said. 

Following a two-day trial in May, a Marion County jury found Lipps guilty of first-degree aggravated animal abuse, domestic violence menacing, resisting arrest, second-degree attempted escape and two counts of attempting to assault a police officer. 

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The jury found Lipps showed deliberate cruelty to his canine victim and showed a lack of remorse — aggravating factors that could lead to a longer sentence. 

His girlfriend said she harbors no bad feelings toward Lipps and blamed his behavior on drugs. 

"He has always been a gentleman," she said. "I want to stay with Richard if God allows it."

Lipps was arrested in December outside an RV trailer parked on the 4700 block of Portland Road NE.

Marion County Sheriff's deputies responded to the RV after receiving a 911 call reporting domestic violence.

A probable cause statement recounted the following:

The woman who owned the RV said she had been dating Lipps for three months. She believed he was high on meth the morning of Dec. 3 when he became upset with her dog Andrea for defecating and urinating inside the RV. 

Lipps started punching and kicking the 2-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier. He took a shoelace, wrapped it around the dog's neck and then got a white metal coat hanger and bent it around the dog's neck. 

While he was doing this, the woman said Lipps looked up at her with an "evil smile" and said, "You're next."

Once she realized the dog was dead, she said she started fearing for her life. 

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Lipps reportedly grabbed the woman by her hair and dragged her from the rear of the RV to the front near the stairs.

He then punched her in the head before she locked herself in a bathroom and called 911. 

Lipps tried to get in by carving a hole in the door and told her he was going to kill her.

Deputy Christian Dalton arrived at the RV and placed Lipps in handcuffs.

But when Lipps’ brother Ernie Lipps appeared about 30 feet away, Richard pointed to his brother and told the deputy, "He has a gun."

When Dalton turned away, Richard attempted to bite him and escape.

Richard spit all over the seat and divider while sitting in the back of a fellow deputy's patrol vehicle.

When Dalton attempted to move Lipps to his patrol vehicle Lipps tried to head-butt Dalton. 

Dalton found the body of the dog outside the RV near the door. Andrea had blood coming out of her mouth. Dalton found a shoe with a shoelace on it and a coat hanger near the dog.

Prosecutor Drew Tayor said the "sad set of the facts" of the case was particularly heinous. He argued for a prison sentence of four years with no eligibility for early release or alternative programming and cited Lipps decades-long criminal record that included battery, sexual battery and drug charges.

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Lipps' attorney Suzanne Taylor asked for a four-year sentence with eligibility for early release and alternative programs. 

She said Lipps has always been remorseful, polite and respectful to her. He has a drug problem and needs treatment, she argued. 

Lipps' girlfriend, and victim, agreed.

"I don't think any imprisonment would help the situation," she said. 

Marion County Judge Mary Mertens James sentenced Lipps to four years in prison. During the first three years, he will not be eligible for alternative programming. 

"Mr. Lipps, I am not as forgiving as (the victim) is," James said. "What you did is heinous, and it's shocking to me that anyone would think otherwise."

She said Andrea the dog caused him no harm, yet he brutally murdered her. 

"I was just trying..." Lipps interrupted before James stopped him.

"That is not excusable," she said. 

James encouraged him to seek drug treatment in prison if he was serious about changing. 

"I will your honor," Lipps said before being led out of the courtroom. 

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For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodwort@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-399-6884 or follow on Twitter @wmwoodworth