The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office has announced criminal charges against an Asbury Park man accused of killing one of his girlfriend’s toy poodles and abandoning the other. 

Authorities say Nicholas C. Winter, 35, has been charged with third-degree animal cruelty resulting in death and abandoning a domestic animal, a disorderly person’s offense.

Police say they responded to a residence on Locust Drive June 4 shortly before 4 a.m. and located the deceased dog, a 12-year-old male named “Bentley.” The victim’s other dog, a 14-year-old female named “Sophia,” was reported missing but found in the area several hours later.

According to prosecutors, an investigation determined that following an argument, Winter repeatedly texted his girlfriend threatening the welfare of her dogs while she was at work. A necropsy later performed on Bentley determined that the dog had died due to blunt-force trauma.

Winter was arrested and charged Tuesday pending a detention hearing to take place in Monmouth County Superior Court. If convicted on the more serious charge against him, he would face up to five years in state prison.