Police Report (large file takes a while to download)
State Attorney's Decision
Town of Melbourne Village Ordinance

Ralph Robert Lester, Jr.

Shooting Committed on 11/20/09

No Arrest, No Prosecutor Charge Information
State Attorney let him get away with this.

"Bob" Lester shot his neighbor's cat 4 times. Shooter claims he thought the black cat was a wild pig that was scaring his wife. Even after hearing cat screams after the first shot that hit the cat, "Bob" Lester continued to shoot. The owner of the cat lives next door. It was dark out (6:30 PM). Owner heard a shot and heard the screams of a cat. There were more shots and more screams from a cat. Another neighbor came out and commented about the cat's screams. Owner of cat called police, police found the bleeding cat, Harry, in the shooter's driveway.

No arrest was made even though Lester admitted shooting his gun and hitting a pet cat four times. It was dark, he hit his target even though he could not identify it.

The cat is alive and improving after much veterinary care.

If you are interested in writing a letter to the State Attorney's office we have sample letters available at: http://voicesforellacf.org/letters/letterLesterCase.htm

Media Coverage:

WESH


http://www.wesh.com/news/21871534/detail.html

Florida Today

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20091210/NEWS01/912100324/Brevard-cat-shooting-a-legal-puzzler

Statistics

Name: Ralph Robert Lester, Jr
Date of Birth: 6/5/1932
Address: 5625 Live Oak Av. Melbourne Village, FL 32904

Voices Comments

Two witnesses within earshot of the shooting immediately identified the screams to be those of a cat. Yet the State Attorney's office believes Lester when Lester says he thought he was shooting a wild pig each time he shot - with a cat scream following each of the shots that were fired. Again, a cat's scream that was easily identified to be a cat by two other witnesses (per their statements) who were within earshot.

Law allows a property owner to humanely kill a wild pig on his property. Key phrase humanely kill. The cat was shot numerous times causing the animal pain which can be deduced due to the screams following each shot. The cat was not killed but was shot numerous times and left maimed and bleeding on the driveway.

Law allows a property owner to humanely kill a wild pig on his property. The shooter did not shoot a pig. He did not have a right to shoot or kill a cat. If the shooter shot a child and the shooter claimed he thought the child was a pig, would that be okay with our legal system?

According to Town of Melbourne Village laws, you can shoot your gun to protect your property. The definition of property being your home, a vehicle or a porch. (per state law definition). The cat was in the driveway. A driveway does not fall under the state definition of property.

The Florida animal cruelty statute, F§ 828.12.2 clearly states that it is a felony when a person intentionally commits an act to any animal which results in the cruel death, or excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering, or causes the same to be done, is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or both. Mr. Lester has admitted to repeatedly inflicting unnecessary pain and suffering to an animal.