Eastpointe – An Eastpointe woman accused of kicking a small dog in the head so violently that the animal lost an eye is now headed to Macomb County Circuit Court after waiving her right to a preliminary examination.
RELATED: Eastpointe Woman Charged With Animal Torture After Dog Loses Eye
Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido announced that 19-year-old Dezhiar Blair of Eastpointe has been bound over for trial on a charge of Third-Degree Animal Torture, a felony punishable by up to 4 years in prison. Prosecutors say the charge is the most serious offense available under Michigan law based on the evidence currently presented.
The development came during a Probable Cause Conference on March 11, 2026, before Judge Kathleen G. Galen in the 38th District Court in Eastpointe. During that hearing, Blair waived her preliminary examination, a step that allowed the case to move directly to the Macomb County Circuit Court for further proceedings.
Blair is scheduled to be arraigned in Macomb County Circuit Court on March 23, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. before Judge James M. Biernat, Jr.
According to prosecutors, the case stems from an incident on February 25, 2026, when Blair allegedly kicked her mother’s less than 5-pound Shipoo in the head. Authorities say the dog was rushed to a veterinarian, where emergency surgery was performed and one of the animal’s eyes had to be removed due to the severity of the injury.
Blair remains lodged in the Macomb County Jail on a $50,000 cash/surety bond. If she is able to post bond, the court has ordered that she have no contact with or possession of any animals.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Justin Pollard represented the People during the district court hearing.
In a statement Prosecutor Lucido condemned the alleged act.
“Acts of violence against animals are not harmless missteps—they represent a serious breach of both law and decency,” Lucido said. “Creatures that depend on people for their safety should never be subjected to abuse or neglect. Our office will not ignore such offenses; we will pursue justice and ensure that those responsible are held fully accountable for the suffering they cause.”
Blair is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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