Anthony Gomez admitted in court on Tuesday to watching another man shoot and kill a pet dog, encouraging that man to behead the dog and knowing that seeing the beloved pet's severed head would terrorize a teenager who had spurned his affections.

Gomez, 24, of St. Paul, pleaded guilty to a charge of terroristic threats before Ramsey County District Judge Elena Ostby.

He will be sentenced Nov. 27. In return, two lesser charges of torture or cruelty to a pet for companion animal will be dismissed.

Prosecutor Mark Hammer said Gomez agreed to an upward departure from sentencing guidelines and will receive a 21-month sentence. He will have to serve 14 months before he is eligible for release. Guidelines call for an 18-month stayed sentence.

Gomez has been in jail since he was charged in March. According to the criminal complaint and evidence at Tuesday's court hearing, Gomez watched as another man shot and killed the 4-year-old Australian shepherd mix named Chevy in the basement of Gomez's home.

Then Gomez said he encouraged the man to behead the dog with a chain saw and videotaped it on his cell phone.

Chevy belonged to Crystal Brown, 17, and was her "best friend" and therapy dog. The dog disappeared Feb. 7. Three weeks later, a package arrived at her grandmother's home addressed to Crystal. Inside was Valentine's candy and the dog's head, wrapped in a garbage bag.

Brown's family said Crystal had spurned his romantic advances and believed he had the dog killed and delivered its head out of spite.

Publicity about the case generated interest from around the world. Brown received letters of condolence, pictures of pets, dog toys and treats, gift cards and checks from as far away as Australia.

On Tuesday, Gomez admitted that he knew Brown would be "terrorized" when she opened the package. His voice was hoarse, slightly high-pitched and almost too soft to hear as he answered questions from Hammer, the prosecutor.

Gomez had been convicted of second-degree assault and sentenced to 21 months in prison for a 2004 attack in St. Paul when he stomped and kicked a friend at a party.

He was convicted of domestic assault in 2001, then violated probation after he failed to complete an anger management course.

Pat Pheifer • 651-298-1551

Pat Pheifer • ppheifer@startribune.com