A Pennsylvania woman, 26, is facing up to 12 years in prison after confessing to a home invasion that resulted in the fatal stabbing of a family dog and injuries to two individuals. Breanna Englert was sentenced by Judge Michael F. Salisbury of the Clinton County Court of Common Pleas on Tuesday, following her guilty plea to charges of criminal trespass, animal cruelty, and making terroristic threats.
Englert, identifiable by a “Lady Justice” tattoo on her neck, admitted to her crimes in October. The incident occurred in April when the Pennsylvania State Police’s Lamar division responded to a 911 call about a home invasion in South Renovo, a town approximately 165 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.
Upon their arrival, law enforcement found Englert at the scene and promptly arrested her. She had broken into the home and was swiftly confronted by the homeowners and a neighbor. Authorities report that Englert attacked the family dog with a knife and bit two individuals, who subsequently required medical treatment. The dog suffered seizures following the attack and died shortly after. Englert was suspected to be under the influence of controlled substances during the incident.
During Englert’s sentencing hearing, Clinton County District Attorney Dave Strouse advocated for a severe penalty, suggesting a maximum sentence of 25 years. Strouse highlighted Englert’s history of violent criminal behavior dating back to 2019, including two assault convictions. At the time of the home invasion, Englert was under supervised release with the Clinton County Adult Probation Department.
Prosecutors opposed the idea of Englert participating in an early-release program. They urged the court to send a strong message with the sentence, emphasizing that home invasions and terrorizing innocent people would be met with severe consequences.
Before the sentencing, one of Englert’s victims, a retired school teacher, addressed her in court. The victim expressed her belief that their neighbors saved their lives that night and shared the ongoing trauma experienced by her grandchildren.
Englert, visibly emotional, apologized to the victims in court and requested to be allowed to complete drug treatment programs instead of serving prison time. She attributed her criminal history to prescription drug abuse and methamphetamine use. However, the court remained unmoved. Judge Salisbury stated that Englert needed a harsh lesson and a lesser sentence would likely result in her re-offending.
In addition to her other charges, Englert also pleaded guilty to two counts of recklessly endangering another person, two counts of simple assault, and one count of resisting arrest. She will be eligible for parole after serving 3 1/2 years of her sentence.