An Armuchee woman has been arrested on a felony warrant charging her with aggravated cruelty to animals after authorities say she admitted beating her small dog to death with a sledgehammer.

According to the warrant, 63-year-old Teresa Lynn Barnes told officers that she struck the dog with the sledgehammer until it died and then left the animal lying on the sidewalk in front of her High Bluff Road residence.

The warrant states that when officers asked Barnes why she killed the dog, she told them she wanted to kill it, so she did.

Under Georgia law, there is an important distinction between cruelty to animals and aggravated cruelty to animals.

Georgia Code Section 16-12-4 generally makes it misdemeanor cruelty to animals when someone causes physical pain, suffering or death to an animal through an unjustifiable act or omission. Aggravated cruelty, however, involves more serious conduct and is a felony.

Georgia law says aggravated cruelty to animals occurs when a person maliciously causes the death of an animal. The felony statute also covers malicious acts that seriously disfigure an animal or render part of its body useless, infliction of severe or prolonged physical pain, intentional poisoning, and certain cases of malicious deprivation of food, water or other necessary care resulting in death or serious injury.

The law defines “malice” to include an actual intent to cause the particular harm without justification or excuse. It can also include a wanton and willful act committed while aware that there is a strong likelihood the harm will result.

That distinction is particularly relevant to the allegation against Barnes. According to the warrant, authorities are not alleging that the dog’s death resulted from neglect or an accident. They allege Barnes intentionally beat the dog to death and that she subsequently told officers she did so because she wanted to kill the animal. Those allegations, if proven, could satisfy the portion of Georgia’s aggravated-cruelty statute dealing with maliciously causing an animal’s death. Ultimately, whether the state can prove those elements is a matter for the courts.

A first conviction for aggravated cruelty to animals in Georgia is punishable by one to five years in prison, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. The statute provides enhanced penalties for subsequent aggravated-cruelty convictions.

Barnes was arrested on the felony warrant. The charge against her is an accusation, and she is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.