MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido announced that 28-year-old Michael Sikorski, of St. Clair Shores, waived his Preliminary Exam on a charge of third-degree animal torture after he allegedly physically abused his dog.
On Friday, April 10, 2026, a preliminary exam was scheduled for Sikorski in the 40th District Court in St. Clair Shores.
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Sikorski waived his right to the exam and was bound over to the circuit court for trial.
He will be arraigned at the Macomb County Circuit Court on Monday, April 20, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
Sikorski was charged with Animals – Torture – Third Degree.
The charge is a four-year felony, and the maximum charge available under the law is based on the evidence presented.
It is alleged that on Sunday, March 15, 2026, Sikorski was slamming his dog, named Steel, onto the ground, kicking the dog several times, and lifting it by its leash, strangling it, before slamming the dog into the ground again.
It is believed that Steel is not permanently injured.
On Monday, March 16, Sikorski was charged with third-degree animal torture, a four-year felony.
His bond was set at $25,000.
In Michigan, it is a felony to intentionally kill or torture an animal. Penalties for torturing or killing an animal can vary in severity in Michigan and can be impacted by many factors, including whether the animal is a pet or a companion animal. Someone convicted of animal cruelty as a form of domestic violence can face up to 10 years in prison.