Being a volunteer is no defense to animal cruelty
The 11th District Court of Appeals rejected the argument that a volunteer cannot be criminally liable for animal cruelty or neglect. Facts. Jo Ann Brantweiner was charged with 8 counts…
Read FullAuthor: J. Jeffrey Holland
Special sanctions for Ohio animal hoarders
The 11th District Court of Appeals upheld a number of notable, special sanctions in an animal hoarding case we prosecuted in the Willoughby Municipal Court for the Eastlake Police Department.…
Read FullOhio’s Coronavirus “Stay at Home” order and Animal Care
Ohio's COVID 19 "Stay at Home" order does not prevent you from caring for animals. The Ohio Department of Health issued an emergency order effective March 24, 2020 requiring all…
Read FullCourts may order forfeiture of horses in animal cruelty case
On September 20, 2019, the 11th District Court of Appeals in Ohio held that a sentencing court may order an animal cruelty offender to forfeit horses as a condition of…
Read FullSentencing for Youngstown animal neglect case
State v. Akesha Bowman, a case we prosecuted for Animal Charity, the humane society serving Mahoning County. Bowman was charged with two counts of companion animal cruelty for keeping her…
Read Full100 days jail time for animal neglect
Update on State v. Vicki Cornell, a case we prosecuted along with Prosecutor Rhonda Fisher in the Bryan Municipal Court last year. Cornell, who operated an organization ironically known as…
Read FullAnimal cruelty conviction for drowning opossum
State v. Terry Shkurka, a case we prosecuted for the Cleveland Animal Protective League. Shkurka admitted trapping an opossum and then holding the cage down in a rubber tub full of…
Read FullJail time for dog starvation case in Ashland, Ohio
State v. Michael Johnson, a case we prosecuted at the request of the Ashland County Humane Society, investigated by Ashland County Dog Warden, Tom Kosht. Johnson was found guilty of…
Read FullConviction for possession of cockfighting birds
State v. Filimon Medina, a case we prosecuted for the Medina County SPCA. This is one of the roosters removed from Mr. Medina's property. It is common practice among cockfighters…
Read FullFarm animal cruelty conviction in Montgomery County
A vivid reminder that all water is not potable. State v. Brenda Moore, a case we prosecuted for the Humane Society of Greater Dayton and the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center. Brenda…
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