LOCK SANCTUARY — After an almost hour-long sentencing case recently, Clinton County Court of Common Pleas Judge Michael F. Salisbury sentenced James Standridge, of Jersey Shore, to the statutory optimum on 2 counts of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals, an aggregate regard to 14 years.
Salisbury likewise enforced an exacerbated minimum sentence on both counts, which will not enable Standridge to be qualified for parole up until he serves 30 months in state jail, according to a release from Crimewatch.
The sentence enforced by Judge Salisbury was the longest regard to imprisonment allowed under Pennsylvania Sentencing Laws.
District Attorney Dave Strouse provided for the Commonwealth at sentencing and asked the court to enforce an exacerbated minimum sentence of no less than 30 months, calling Standridge’s actions “reprehensible and entirely inexcusable.”
Strouse laid out the hidden truths of the case for the court, that Standridge had actually taken his then-one-and-a-half years of age dog to a remote location in the woods, connected her to a tree and after that shot her two times, leaving her to pass away.
The dog, re-named “Lucky” by Clinton County SPCA employees and volunteers, was left alone to pass away, for 6 days, in freezing cold temperature levels prior to she was found by a passing vehicle driver.
Lucky went through a number of surgical treatments and ultimately needed to have her leg cut off, Strouse said. She likewise suffered extreme frostbite leading to the loss of a number of toes. Lucky still has a 9mm slug embedded in her neck that was unable to be securely gotten rid of.
Strouse likewise laid out declarations offered by the SPCA and the vet who, together, saved Lucky’s life.
They laid out the months of discomfort and suffering withstood by Lucky as she recuperated from her injuries, consisting of the amputation treatment that was needed after the preliminary surgical treatments to save her leg showed not successful.
Standridge asked the court to think about a regional prison sentence to be served at the Clinton County Correctional Facility. He informed Salisbury that he seemed like he didn’t have an option however to do what he did, declaring that the dog had actually revealed herself to be a threat to his other dog in the home. Standridge declared that he attempted to provide her away, however nobody desired the dog. He likewise declared that the regional SPCA’s didn’t have room to take her.
Standridge provided 3 witnesses at sentencing, his partner, his mother-in-law, and his company. Collectively the witnesses said they depended upon Standridge to look after the family, to supply financial backing and to keep their little business.
Judge Salisbury invested roughly thirty minutes of the case describing the pertinent truths and situations of Standridge’s criminal offenses.
Salisbury declined claims that the SPCA had no room, explaining that the Clinton County SPCA has pens available at their center where animals can be left, “no questions asked.” Salisbury stressed that Standridge made mindful choices to eliminate his dog, and did not really try to take any other strategy.
Judge Salisbury went on to state that the SPCA’s declaration to the court, describing the severe discomfort and suffering withstood by Lucky, was among the most challenging things he has actually needed to check out as a judge, which the letter brought him to tears as he read it.
Just prior to enforcing sentence, Salisbury informed Standridge, “In 10 years as judge, I have never sentenced a defendant in the aggravated range (of the PA Sentencing Guidelines), but that will change today.”
He included, “You didn’t show Lucky any mercy, and likewise, this court will not show you mercy now.”
Standridge, 34, had actually gotten in guilty pleas back in May to one count of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals by Torture, a felony 3, and one count of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals by Inflicting Serious Bodily Injury or Death, a felony 3.
During the plea hearing in May, Strouse likewise notified the Court that the Commonwealth would be looking for restitution for veterinarian expenses and other services offered by the Clinton County SPCA for Lucky.
Standridge balked at the ask for restitution, declaring that the SPCA had actually raised “more than $10,000” in fundraising after news of Lucky spread out on social networks and regional news networks.
On Tuesday, Salisbury purchased Standridge to pay complete restitution for the medical expenditures of Lucky, and informed Standridge he declined to provide him the advantage of the kind-heartedness and goodwill of individuals of this county who chose to help make a much better life for Lucky. Standridge was initially charged by Pine Creek Township Police after they received reports that a passing vehicle driver discovered a brindle-colored female pitbull terrier on Jan. 27, 2023 along the side of the roadway on Pine Mountain Road in Wayne Township.
The dog was noticeably hurt with open injuries, later on revealed to be bullet injuries when the slugs were discovered still embedded in the dog’s flesh.
