STAUNTON — An Augusta County man jailed for greater than every week after being accused of capturing and killing his neighbor’s service canine was given a $5,000 bond Tuesday in circuit courtroom.
Louis E. Davis Jr., 67, was in Augusta County Circuit Court on a bond attraction after beforehand being denied bond at an earlier listening to final week basically district courtroom. He is dealing with fees of felony animal cruelty and misdemeanor reckless dealing with of a firearm.
Davis is accused of killing his neighbor’s canine, a Husky, with a large-caliber revolver the morning of Sept. 15, in accordance with the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office. The capturing occurred within the 200 block of Rip Rap Road close to Waynesboro.
In courtroom Wednesday, testimony confirmed that deputies questioned Davis at his home, the place he has lived for 35 years. Sgt. Mike Roane of the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office mentioned Davis informed him he wasn’t initially certain if he shot a canine or coyote. According to Roane, Davis additionally claimed he wasn’t capturing on the animal and mentioned the bullet ricocheted some 30 yards off the bottom and struck the canine, a service canine for Davis’ 27-year-old neighbor.
Roane mentioned there was no proof {that a} bullet hit the bottom, and he mentioned Davis finally modified his story and admitted understanding it was a canine that he shot whereas on the high of his driveway. The canine’s physique was discovered on the street off of Davis’ property, and Roane mentioned there have been no indicators it had been on his land.
The canine was shot within the backbone, an earlier press launch mentioned, and was pronounced lifeless when it arrived at an animal hospital.
During Tuesday’s listening to, a number of relations testified on Davis’ behalf. Evidence confirmed that he suffers from post-traumatic stress dysfunction, and his spouse mentioned it was a results of him discovering their son lifeless in his bed room 12 years in the past.
“It affected him very, very a lot,” mentioned Theresa Davis, his spouse of 45 years. “He fully modified.”
Davis, a retiree who cares for his ailing spouse, stopped searching and have become extra withdrawn following his son’s dying, in accordance with testimony.
However, one other neighbor testified she’s been harassed by Davis and his spouse, and claimed they’ve blocked her from moving into her driveway, fired weapons on their property allegedly to intimidate her, and threatened her dogs.
Davis’ file is scant. Testimony confirmed he was convicted of misdemeanor assault in 1989 and reckless driving in 2017.
Circuit Judge Paul Dryer issued a $5,000 bond and ordered that Davis can keep at his daughter’s home whereas awaiting trial if he posts bond.
As of late-Monday afternoon, Davis was nonetheless at Middle River Regional Jail in Verona.
