JOSEPH LEE
Joseph Lee pleaded guilty Monday to fifth-degree felony cruelty to buddy animals. Earlier this year, Lee had actually been implicated of triggering major injury to a then-4-month-old Husky puppy. His sentence was set for Aug. 28 and he deals with one year of imprisonment.
Lee’s trial had actually been set for Aug. 17, however Belmont County Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan notified Common Pleas Judge John Vavra Monday that a plea arrangement had actually been reached.
Flanagan included there was no agreed-upon sentence and the state would stand quiet.
Lee, 29, of New Jersey, initially dealt with 3 charges of cruelty to buddy animals, 2 of them misdemeanor counts each bring charges of 6 months in prison. The 2 misdemeanors were dismissed.
Vavra will evaluate the realities of the case prior to sentence. A pre-sentence examination and Eastern Ohio Correction Center assessment were purchased.
Afterward, Flanagan said the misdemeanors were dropped given that they might not run consecutively.
“The reason why we filed the misdemeanors was because if the jury doesn’t find there’s serious physical harm, then they find the misdemeanors,” Flanagan said.
He said there have actually been more felony-level animal cruelty prosecutions given that Goddard’s Law was passed in Ohio in 2016, making it a felony of the 5th degree to trigger major physical damage to an animal.
Flanagan likewise applauded the gentle group Belmont County Hoof & Paw and gentle representative Julie Larish for actively examining these cases and collecting proof.
“This case was a case that Hoof & Paw and Ms. Larish had received a report, started an active investigation probably a month previous, continued to get reports and they were very aggressive in the way they had received these reports. They got law enforcement involved and eventually took ownership of the animal,” Flangan said. “They got the animal to a vet, who found multiple fractures. Some were fairly new, others were in various stages of healing, so with that, that was actually the main reason we were able to move forward on the case. Without the involvement of Hoof & Paw, that simply would not have been possible. … Hats off to the people of that agency and what they’ve done.”
Flanagan said the proof and nature of the injuries recommend the abuse might have gone on for a minimum of a month.
Larish’s organization is looking after the dog.
“I want the max sentence,” Larish said. “That doesn’t always happen but I am hoping for the max sentence because this little dog did not deserve this at all. She’s the most lovable, huggable dog you could ask for, and I still have her with me and she will be here until who knows how long.”
While the husky is recuperating, Larish said the animal will need long-lasting care.
