Morris County, New Jersey’s DAILY RECORD reported this week on the busy summer of Donovan Allieri, a 6-foot-5, 265-pound lineman who recently signed a letter-of-intent to play football at Villanova.

According to a June 6 police report, Allieri was recently arrested for “breaking into his girlfriend’s house, stealing $8,775 worth of jewelry, and killing ”Pepper,’ the family’s 9-pound miniature dachshund.”

Make that ex-girlfriend.

Allieri has been officially charged by Boon Township Police with, “theft, burglary and animal cruelty.”

But Allieri isn’t going quietly, despite being offered a plea deal that included jail time.

Allieri was charged on June 26. Defense lawyer Marcy McMann on Tuesday in state Superior Court, Morristown, rejected a plea offer extended to Allieri that calls for probation and 364 days in the Morris County jail.

The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office will now present the case to a grand jury for possible indictment.

So, what about the dog?

McMann said the dachshund bit Allieri in early June. On June 6, McMann said, the alleged victims found Pepper dead in its cage but didn’t bring that to the attention of police until the end of June when an investigation started into jewelry stolen from the house.

Allieri is accused of letting the dog out of its cage in the house and smashing it against the floor and wall, but McMann said the animal had been sick, suddenly started biting and more likely died of other causes. She said she has seen no evidence of injuries to the dog and there were no witnesses to the alleged cruelty.

“More likely died of other causes“? Hmmm.

With Allieri denying the charges, his ex-girlfriend apparently now wants him to do jail time. Though it sounds like Allieri’s attorney is pushing for just the opposite:

McMann said that Allieri adamantly denies breaking into the house, and the lawyer said there is evidence that his ex-girlfriend stole her mother’s jewelry so she could pawn it and use the cash to buy her father a Father’s Day gift.

McMann said the dachshund bit Allieri in early June. On June 6, McMann said, the alleged victims found Pepper dead in its cage but didn’t bring that to the attention of police until the end of June when an investigation started into jewelry stolen from the house.

No word yet if Villanova plans to honor Allieri’s scholarship.

Probably waiting to see if he ends up in the Big House. If that’s the case, RichRod’s squad would probably be the next, logical option.