No jail time for convict who punched Hillsdale man, kicked dog

ONLY ON CVP: A former Westwood man taken into custody last week after he skipped his sentencing for punching a Hillsdale man and kicking his dog was expected to remain free following his release from jail.

Photo Credit: *CLIFFVIEW PILOT Courthouse Reporter Mary K. Miraglia*

Jerry DeMarco

10/26/2014 2:37 p.m.

Under a plea deal with prosecutors, 23-year-old Christian Sapp will be sentenced to time served and must pay the veterinarian bill for the dog’s injuries.

Westwood police arrested Sapp last Saturday on a warrant forwarded by the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office for not attending his originally scheduled sentencing on Sept. 12. He was freed following a brief court appearance on Friday after being held nearly a week.

Sapp punched the 34-year-old man and kicked his dog outside the Wendy’s Restaurant on Hillsdale Avenue and then fled on May 7, Hillsdale authorities said at the time.

Officer Alex Kaplan interviewed the victim and quickly pegged the 5-foot-5-inch, 155-pound Sapp, whose criminal record includes several random attacks. Records show charges dismissed in at least two of those cases.

STORY/PHOTO: CLIFFVIEW PILOT Courthouse Reporter Mary K. Miraglia

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