Teen who beat llamas faces drug charge

He is accused of giving friends Xanax, which is often prescribed to relieve anxiety or panic.

By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 5, 2002

A teenager already facing more than a dozen charges after his early-morning golf-club beating of two pet llamas in East Lake last February has been charged with the distribution of the controlled substance Xanax.

In the process of investigating the charges against Robert B. Pettyjohn II, authorities "kept turning up people" who received or purchased Xanax from Pettyjohn, said Pinellas prosecutor Bill Burgess.

"We just couldn't ignore it."

Pettyjohn, 19, is in jail and is being held without bail while he awaits a scheduled March 5 trial in Pinellas County on three counts of felony cruelty to animals.

In addition to selling the drug, Burgess said, Pettyjohn also distributed Xanax to friends during large parties at his former home on Ranch Road in East Lake.

Xanax is frequently prescribed to relieve anxiety or panic.

Some high school and college students use it as a party drug, often mixing it with alcohol to boost the effect.

Last month, Pettyjohn was sentenced to at least three years in prison for his part in the bow-and-arrow shooting of two bulls sleeping in a Hillsborough County ranch.

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