McGowan faces more charges in cruelty case

ANCHORAGE - A man facing animal cruelty charges for severely beating a dog now faces counts of trying to cover it up.

The Anchorage district attorney on Friday added witness tampering and tampering with evidence charges against 50-year-old Robert Mark McGowan.

Officials say that in February, McGowan was upset after his dog, Harley, had an accident in the bedroom after being left alone for hours.

Authorities allege McGowan hit and stabbed the dog with the sharp edge of an object, thought to be a muzzle-loading rifle.

The dog suffered broken teeth and ran away yelping. He was later taken into protective custody, and has undergone two corrective surgeries.

The new charges allege McGowan tried to hide or destroy evidence and to get a roommate to lie about the incident.