James R. Peterson, 38, was sentenced to 33 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges, 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced on Tuesday.
The charges stem from an incident in which Peterson killed a SLED K-9 named Coba while law enforcement attempted to serve burglary warrants.
He pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary, three counts of attempted murder, as well as charges of cruelty to a police dog and resisting arrest with a deadly weapon.
Circuit Judge William McMaster sentenced him to 28 years for burglary and attempted murder, along with 10 years for resisting arrest, to be served concurrently.
Additionally, Peterson received a five-year sentence for cruelty to a police dog, which will be served consecutively—the maximum penalty allowed under state law.
“James Peterson is a career criminal, and I am thankful that he will be spending most, if not all, of his remaining years behind bars,” Stumbo said. “Coba nobly served and gave his life for the citizens of our state, and I firmly believe the sentence for such a sacrifice should be higher than five years in prison.”
Authorities stated that Peterson entered a home in May 2024 and was identified thanks to a Ring camera.
Deputies found him at his mother’s home on Gravel Lane in Prosperity on June 11.
SLED called in the K-9 team due to Peterson’s track record of resisting arrest.
When K-9 officer, Coba entered to help in the arrest, Peterson fatally shot the dog with a shotgun.
Officers fired back and hit Peterson.
