Joseph R. Brandon of Franklin Township, charged with intimidation of witness or victim for trying to get ex-girlfriend to drop animal cruelty charges against him in Butler.

Hoping to coerce a former girlfriend into dropping charges against him for allegedly brutalizing her dog, Butler police say a man threatened to kill the woman and set a child relative of hers on fire.

Joseph R. Brandon, 31, of Franklin Township was placed in the Butler County Prison following his arraignment Thursday night on a felony charge of intimidation of a witness or victim and a misdemeanor charge of terroristic threats.

District Judge Lewis Stoughton set bail for Brandon, an eight-time felon, at $250,000.

This is an excerpt — pick up Sunday’s Butler Eagle to read more about the case.