DALLAS - Tempers flared as today's bond reduction hearing for an 18 year old charged with animal cruelty came to an end with no resolution today.

Judge Rick Magnis recused himself, saying he had personal knowledge about the case against Darius Ewing, of Dallas, before he was assigned to the case. The judge made the announcement to a courtroom full of people divided over the case. The crowd had waited nearly an hour for the bond reduction hearing to begin.

Ewing is accused of lighting a puppy on fire. The dog, named Justice by rescuers, later died from his injuries.

The teen had hoped to have his $100,000 bond reduced this morning at a hearing at the Frank Crowley Court Building. However, the hearing was postponed until a new judge is assigned to the case next week.

Ewing turned himself in to police at a candlelight vigil held days after the 4-month-old Labrador terrier mix died of his injuries. The puppy had burns over 70 percent of his body.

Police said several teens are to blame for what happened to the puppy back on April 4. Witnesses said the teens first tried to hang the puppy with a rope and then set him on fire using lighter fluid and a cigarette at a Pleasant Grove apartment complex.

Bonnie Mathias, with the Animal Shelter Commission for the city of Dallas, said Ewing has not been proven guilty and deserves to get his day in court. Mathias was one of several in the courtroom not convinced Ewing is to blame for the puppy's death.

Ewing's mom, Kesha Hood, was also in the courtroom saying her son is innocent. Hood said he has an alibi and was in Seagoville with family members the week Justice was set on fire.

Jim Wenger, with DFW Rescue Me, said Ewing will get his day in court, but for now should stay behind bars with his bond set at $100,000. Wenger, who spent nearly a week volunteering his time to save Justice before the puppy died of burns, said the young man is a flight risk and has a record worthy of the bond he was given.

Ewing is charged with animal cruelty, which is a felony in Dallas County. The crime is punishable with four to 10 years behind bars.

I am not a pet owner as I don't care for them but that is just awful to see. Why are people so cruel to defenseless animals? Makes me sick.

Anyone who could light a puppy on fire and watch it burn is capable of so much more. Hopefully if he is in fact guilty his time behind bars will prevent him from taking the next steps into doing the same thing to people.

Those who kill animals like that have very serious issues and turn into very scary people.

I've been following the story, living in Dallas, and it has really roused the people due to the intense cruelty.

If he is found guilty, I hope he gets the book thrown at him.

I totaly agree.I had a wolf/husky cross dog.The guy next door poisened her.We all new who did it.But the cops could not do anything because there was noone that saw it.The cops said I could take care of it myself.So I did!

Flamethrower would work for me!

Giving a guy a jail sentence for killing an animal! Does the dog have more right than the dishes who are caught in their millions everyday to feed man? Or the deer and birds who are shot everyday just for sport?Remember the dog meat is quite a delicacy in China and other south east asian countries. I believe a term of community service would be appropriate to deter such savagery though.

Yes he deserves jail time at the least. It is because of the cruel and horrific way he tortured the puppy.

Cruelty to and torture of animals by young people is a classic sign of a sociopathic personality..All of the teens involved should be incarcerated and evaluated before they decide to torch someone's child....

Quite often those who abuse animals go on to abuse people. Cruelty is cruelty and should not be tolerated in this or any other society.

The judge reduced his bond from $100K to $50K. Some local reverend is now doing the race baiting crap saying everyone is picking on this ''poor boy'' because he's black. What a crock!!!