http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2002/01/02/state2106EST0130.DTL _________________________________________________________________ LA man charged with blowing dog's jaw off with firecracker Wednesday, January 2, 2002 _________________________________________________________________ (01-02) 18:06 PST LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A man accused of blowing apart a dog's jaw with a big firecracker pleaded innocent Wednesday to animal cruelty and other charges. Gil Raul Delara, 19, allegedly placed a so-called M-80 in the dog's mouth on Dec. 30 and lit the fuse, police said in a statement. The dog's entire lower jaw was blown off and the animal was put down at a veterinary hospital, according to Officer Eduardo Funes. Delara was arrested by detectives from the criminal conspiracy and explosives section, who also found additional M-80s and fireworks. County prosecutors charged him with 11 counts of possession of a destructive device and one count of animal cruelty. Lynwood Superior Court Judge Xenophon F. Lang Jr. ordered Delara held in lieu of $500,000 bail. Another hearing in the case was set for Jan. 9 in Compton. ©2002 Associated Press