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  • List of Animal Cruelty In Brevard County (unless otherwise specified)

    Just a few of many instances
    Abrams, Christine , Cocoa
    Abandoned her 11 month old german shepherd, Ella. Ella had just had her leg amputated, was locked in a crate in an empty house and left. Ella's decomposing, fly infested body was found two months later.
    Animal Cruelty charges filed and convicted of misdemeanor
    No pets while on probation. Her probation was terminated 12/07/09
    Almquist, David Russell - Titusville
    Arrested 9/08/09
    Choked the family cat then threw the cat against the wall. Cat suffered head trauma, nasal bleeding and a fractured humerus.
    Charged with, pleaded guilty to and convicted of third degree FELONY Animal Cruelty
    Sentence: 2 yrs 8 months probation with option of early termination once all fines are paid.
    No mention of pet restrictions
    Burke, Shannon (Seminole County)
    Shot his wife's dog, bullet also hit his wife in the head.
    "The defendant walked to a closet, got a .40-caliber handgun and told her, "'I'm going to shoot the dog in the head, and you are going to watch,' " she said in divorce paperwork"[...]the gun went off and a single bullet went through the dog's back leg, kept traveling and cut a ridge along the right side of Catherine Burke's head."
    Animal Cruelty charges filed, he got a plea deal.
    Sentence: 6 months in jail, with eligibility for work release
    Blackmon, Luctria May, Cocoa
    Dog injured/stabbed by knife during domestic dispute.
    Animal Cruelty / Aggravated Battery DV arrested 6/18/10.
    Charges were dropped/abandoned
    Blair, Thomas Joseph, Mims
    Emaciated dog turned into county shelter. Previous infractions of Inhumane Treatment of multiple dogs.
    Animal Cruelty charges not filed
    Boscomb, Danielle , - S Park AV, Titusville
    No arrest
    Shot her little toy poodle, Gabriel. Gabriel was not dead, Titusville police did a mercy killing by taking the dog outside and shooting her. Danielle Boscomb was institutionalized due to her mention of suicide.
    Animal Cruelty charges not filed
    Campo, Angela, Cocoa
    Abandoned a labrador named Brutus in an empty house, locked in a bathroom. He was found alive. Campo would not sign over the dog. Brevard Sheriff's office filed misdemeanor charges with State Attorney's office. 8/18/08 Brutus was signed over to Animal Services. County Judge ruled Campo and her boyfriend, Richard Martin, in a Fitness to Own should not own dogs until deemed fit. Channel 9 News link (This is typically a state wide ruling).
    Animal Cruelty charges not filed by State Attorney's office.
    Cieszynski, Sgt. Harry- Titusville
    Shot and killed cat.
    Animal Cruelty charges not filed.
    Chambers, Maria Renee- Titusville
    Three dogs, no food or water. All had worms, one was Heartworm positive (fatal disease if not treated, is preventable). One was emaciated.
    Animal Cruelty charges not filed
    County Judge ruled Chambers and her boyfriend, Jason Witty, in a Fitness to Own should not own dogs until deemed fit.
    Dempsey, James, Derrick , Cape Canaveral, 32920-2934
    Animal Cruelty / Battery / Burglary. Arrested 6/16/09
    Animal Cruelty charges not filed
    Fletcher, Daniel, - Palm Bay
    2 emaciated pups confiscated. Dogs were fed every 4 or 5 days according to owner.
    Animal Cruelty charges not filed
    Fountain, Suzanne, - Melbourne
    Severe neglect of care of multiple animals. 5 dead cats, one was ill and taken to county shelter.
    Animal Cruelty charges filed 12/29/10
    Griffin, James, - Palm Bay
    Abandoned hedgehog, no food or water. Rubber bands around rear feet caused severe infection.
    Animal Cruelty charges filed
    Pled Nolo Contendere. Disposition: Adjudication Withheld
    Sentence: 3 years probation; 100 hours Community Service.
    Ham, Daniel - Melbourne
    Arrest 2/11/09
    Killed four month old puppy. Put sock in pup's mouth, dumped pup in a dumpster with trash - which led back to Ham. Pup eventually died after being found.
    Arrested for felony
    Misdemeanor Animal Cruelty charges filed and convicted.
    Sentence: No jail time.
    No pets while on probation (until approx Feb 2010). In Nov 2009 he was living with someone who owned a dog and was reminded of his probation restriction.
    Henderson, Charles, - Cocoa
    Abandoned more than 62 cats.
    Animal Cruelty charges not filed
    Hill Street, - Merritt Island
    2 seriously injured dogs who were deprived of veterinary care were confiscated from owners. One dog had to be euthanized.
    Animal Cruelty charges not filed
    Hogle, Christine L., - Palm Bay
    17 animals confiscated. 2 were dead, rest in various condition.
    Arrested for felony Animal Cruelty. Charged with misdemeanor Animal Cruelty.
    Prosecution not pursuing
    Horvath, Laszlo (Orange County)
    Sexually assaulting his 8 yr old Whippet mix who had to be put down due to severity of injuries.
    Animal Cruelty charges filed, Pleaded No Contest.
    During his house arrest prior to conviction he was ordered no contact with animals during this time. He violated the order to not be in contact with animals so was put in jail.
    Sentence: 3 years probation, no dogs, psyche evaluation and fines.
    Hynes, Gregory Melbourne
    Landmark case for Brevard County.
    Starved many animals to death.
    11/30/2004 (arrest). Charged with and convicted, by jury, of felony. Judge Maxwell reduced to only misdemeanors after the jury decision on the felony.
    Sentence: 6 months jail time (only did 151 days of that, which was time served). 2 yrs community service. 6 months probation.
    No mention of pet restrictions. See full details at http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/3237/FL/US
    Johnson, Alton Horace - Titusville
    Animal Cruelty 3rd degree felony
    Arrested 8/31/09, posted 2,500 bond 9/4/09
    Animal Cruelty charges not filed
    Jordan, Albert - Titusville
    Dog Fighting.
    Charged with misdemeanor count of Animal Cruelty FS 828.13.2.A
    County Judge ruled Albert and Wade Jordan, in a Fitness to Own petition should not own dogs until deemed fit.
    4/13/10 Plea No Contest
    Sentence: 171 days jail time, which is time served.
    Kelley - High Street Dogs, Cocoa
    Two dogs in wire crates in sun. No water, no protection from elements. Reportedly out there for three weeks.
    Animal Cruelty charges not filed
    Kuhn, Francis Joseph , Cape Canaveral
    German Shepherd tethered by his choker chain collar to an unmovable cable is found dead in yard by either a broken neck or strangulation.
    Animal Cruelty charges not filed
    Lewark, Rusty Eugene , Rockledge
    Beat one dog to death with an ax, then hung the second dog and beat that dog to death with a thick stick.
    Animal Cruelty felony charges filed
    Pled Guilty
    Sentence: 2 6 month jail terms, 2 5 year probation terms. Jail and probation to run consecutively (1 yr jail, 10 yr probation) - no pets during probation
    Lester, Ralph Robert "Bob" - Melbourne Village
    Shot his neighbor's cat four times at close range causing serious injuries.
    Animal Cruelty charges not filed, No charges filed at all for shooting a gun in a residential area, no arrest
    McRae, Daniel - Palm Bay
    Possible Dog fighting.
    Animal Cruelty charges not filed
    McRae, Roosevelt - Palm Bay
    Possible Dog fighting.
    Animal Cruelty charges not filed
    Miller, Kristen Leigh, - Grant
    Confinement without sufficient food. Starving and abandoning 4 dogs.
    Animal Cruelty charges filed 2/3/11
    Raymond, Rose, Cocoa
    Hoarder at Shadwell Av. Mentioned to her vet's office that she eats the dogs. Has horses, also. Conditions are miserable.
    Animal Cruelty charges not filed
    Spaulding, James, Kevin , Cape Canaveral, 32920-2843
    Animal Cruelty / Battery / Assault (domestic violence). Arrested 6/24/09
    Animal Cruelty charges not filed
    Tacke, Lee Allen , - Palm Bay
    Animal Cruelty, abandoned one dog outside on chain, another female dog and her puppies (3 dead, 10 alive) inside a feces filled house with no food or water for any of the dogs. Arrested 3/12/11. He surrendered the dogs to the county.
    Thomas, Jermaine , Cocoa
    Animal Cruelty / Battery / Armed Robbery. Arrested 6/19/09
    Animal Cruelty charges not filed
    Thomas, Shamika - Titusville
    Animal Cruelty - 5 counts (confinement with insufficient food)
    Mistreated dogs returned to family member Robert Mitchell who lived at the same address of confiscation.
    Animal Cruelty charges not filed Nolle prosequi
    Vanschaick, David - Palm Bay
    Animal Cruelty - Arrested 12/23/09.
    Charged with felony animal cruelty 828.12.2.
    Lack of veterinary care for suffering dog
    Fitness to Own Injunction by the County.
    4/13/10 Plea to Misdemeanor charge FS 828.12.1, Adjudication Withheld
    Sentence: 6 months probation; 50 hours Community Svc, 10 hours monthly to begin no later than May 1, 2010; Fines.
    Walter, Barry Karl- Palm Bay
    122 dead or dying snakes and reptiles. Animal Services filing a Fitness to Own.
    Charged with 1 count felony animal cruelty 828.12.2. and 3 misdemeanors.
    Sentence: 35 days jail time. 5 years probation
    Witty, Jason Robert- Titusville
    Three dogs, no food or water. All have worms, one is Heartworm positive (fatal disease that is preventable). One is emaciated. County Judge ruled Witty and his girlfriend, Marie "Renee" Chambers, in a Fitness to Own should not own dogs until deemed fit.
    Animal Cruelty charges not filed
    His accomplice, Maria Renee Chambers, aka Renee Chambers also has no charges.
    Wright, Michelle M , Cocoa
    Puppies covered in mange and fleas and bleeding from the mouth, Wright refused to give the puppies necessary veterinary care. Puppies were confiscated.
    3/5/2008 Charged with felony animal cruelty
    10/27/2009 Plea to Misdemeanor charge FS 828.12.1, Adjudication Withheld
    Sentence: 1 yr probation (can apply for early termination after 6 months). 64 hours community service by 9/27/2010.
    No mention of pet restrictions.
    Wyns, Kenta - Cocoa
    Arrested 10/20/09
    Arrested for third degree felony Animal Cruelty charge for beating his dog, mercilessly. The dog was in critical care at the Emergency Animal Hospital, survived.
    Charged with felony animal cruelty.
    A few of 2007 arrests but no charges
    A few of the arrests made in 2007 for animal cruelty which resulted in the charges being dropped or no action by the State Attorney's Office.

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