GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — A 26-year-old St. Paul man has been sent to prison for burglary and for using a hammer to kill his 6-month-old puppy.

Michael Berst had pleaded no contest to several charges in a deal with prosecutors. On Wednesday Berst was given 20 to 60 months for cruel mistreatment of animals and the same sentence for tampering with evidence. The sentences will be served at the same time. He was given 30 to 60 months for burglary. That prison time must be served after the two concurrent sentences.

A court document says Berst told a friend he’d first struck the dog on April 15 for relieving itself on a floor and later used the hammer to kill the dog, telling the friend he was putting the animal out of its misery.