DENVER -- The man accused of dragging a dog to death through the Colorado National Monument has been sentenced to the maximum provided by the law.

Steven Clay Romero, 38, of Grand Junction, was sentenced Friday to three years in federal prison, followed by 12 months of supervised release. Judge Philip A. Brimmer also ordered Romero to pay a $500 fine, and $343.68 in restitution to the owners of a dog named Buddy.

Romero was convicted of aggravated animal cruelty. Prosecutors said Romero took Buddy to Colorado National Monument, tied a rope around the dog's neck, attached that rope to the back of his pickup truck, and drove uphill for at least two miles.

National Park Service workers found the body of large mixed-breed dog with a rope tied around its neck on Dec. 30, 2009. It was left in the snow on the side of the road.

In order to identify the culprit, National Park Service officials posted photos of the dead dog on the park's website in hopes that people would recognize the animal and report the person (or persons) who committed "this horrific crime upon a defenseless animal."

Romero’s sister, Melissa Marie Lockhart, pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to the crime of aggravated animal cruelty. Lockhart admitted stealing Buddy from the back of a parked pickup truck.

According to the stipulated facts in her plea agreement, Lockhart thought Buddy had killed her kitten and told Romero to get rid of Buddy.

Romero was taken into custody to begin serving his sentence immediately.

Buddy's story has received national attention. A Facebook group called "Demand Justice For Buddy" has more than 267,000 members.