The Britney Spears-tattooed man charged with the theft of a pink-clad chihuahua last year made an appearance in a Broward Courtroom Friday, where he was officially charged with grand theft of the pooch.
Channing Reynolds, 34, was arraigned for the heist of Hudson Hayward Hemingway, a 10-month-old pup with a pink belly, pink ears and pink earrings. who disappeared during a party in July 2009.
Hudson's owner, Brian Dortort, said his beloved pink pooch was stolen from him at a party at Wilton Manors gay bar Georgie's Alibi by Reynolds, who had asked to hold the dog.
Dortort said he let the man hold Hudson briefly, and as soon as he turned around the dog and the specialty bag he was in were gone.
A warrant had been issued for Reynolds last September, but authorities weren't able to locate him until was arrested in January on DUI-related charges in Pennsylvania.
He was finally extradited to Broward earlier this month.
Dortort, who is still keeping up a tireless search for Hudson, attended Friday's arraignment.
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"I'm kind of unhappy, I was quite upset about seeing him," Dortort said of Channing. "I got a little teary eyed today."
Dortort, 49, said he thinks Reynolds needs professional help, in addition to jail time.
"What kind of person would do this, why would you take my dog?" said an exasperated Dortort. "I think rather than send him to jail, I'd rather see him in a mental facility."
It's unknown what happened to Hudson, and Dortort would like to get to the bottom of it.
"Instead of punishment, I'm more interested in finding out what happened to the dog," he said. "I want to know where the dog is, Is the dog alive? I don't know whether she's dead or not."
Reynolds is being held on $5,000 bond. He's due back in court on Sept. 3.
Dortort said he's partially moved on. A second chihuahua was donated to him last September, which he named Hudson Hayward Hemingway II and promptly gave earrings and some pink accents.
"She's just gorgeous, she's just a peach," he said. "f you loved something as much as I love her."
