State v. Willie Powell, Jr., a case we prosecuted for the Cleveland Animal Protective League. Judge Ronald Adrine sentenced Powell to serve 6 months in jail for the neglect of his four dogs, the maximum penalty for a first degree misdemeanor. Powell was previously convicted of attempted dog fighting in 2002. In this case, Powell’s…
State v. Robert Konst (a.k.a. “Hollywood Bob”), a case we prosecuted for the Geauga County Humane Society. 74 cats and one dead kitten were found at Konst’s residence and place of business in overcrowded and filthy conditions. Animals suffered from a variety of ailments including severe upper respiratory infections, conjunctivitis, and infected and ruptured eyes.…
State v. Joshua Maldonado, a case we prosecuted for the Cleveland Animal Protective League. Maldonado was found guilty of one count of animal cruelty, a first degree misdemeanor, for the injury to his dog “Diamond.” In this case, witnesses reported either seeing or hearing the Defendant beat Diamond. When the APL responded to the complaints,…
State v. Howard Dowdell, a case we prosecuted for the Humane Society of Greater Akron. Dowdell was found guilty of 3 counts of companion animal cruelty in a case alleging neglect of 6 dogs in his care. The veterinary report noted dogs that were very thin, dehydrated and/or infested with whipworms and hookworms. One stool…
State v. Vicki Cornell, a case we helped prosecute for the Williams County Humane Society, co-counseling with the Bryan City Prosecutor’s Office. Cornell was found guilty of 24 counts of companion animal cruelty relating to 48 dogs kept on her residential property in Edon, Ohio. All were allegations of severe neglect. Some animals were extremely…
State v. Nathan Vapenik, a case we prosecuted for the Medina County SPCA, jointly investigated with Brunswick Animal Control. Defendant was found guilty of two counts of companion animal cruelty for keeping two emaciated, dehydrated dogs in his car. He tied their leashes to the steering wheel, and left the windows cracked open. The dogs…