CONVICTED: Was justice served?
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Case #10689 Rating: 3.0 out of 5
Two dogs killed in drunk driving accident
Fairmont, NC (US)Incident Date: Friday, Feb 10, 2006
County: Robeson
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Patrick Gerald
A Fairmont man will spend 15 days in jail after he pled guilty Jan 29 to causing an accident that killed two dogs.
"It's the first time I've ever charged someone with animal cruelty while someone has been drinking and driving," said Katherine Floyd, county animal cruelty officer. "These drunk drivers should be held accountable for what they kill, even though it was not a human being ... . Those animals are loved by somebody."
Patrick Gerald, 49, of 39 Leona Road, pled guilty in District Court to driving while impaired and animal cruelty in the Feb. 10, 2006, accident.
The accident occurred on N.C. 41 near Stephens Road when Gerald's vehicle slammed head-on with a vehicle driven by Larry Russ, a sheriff's deputy who was off-duty at the time.
Also in the car were Russ' girlfriend, Shea Ann DeJarnette, and her two dogs.
A golden retriever, which was thrown from the vehicle, and a mixed breed dog were killed. Russ, DeJarnette and Gerald all suffered minor injuries.
According to court records, Gerald was traveling an estimated 70 mph when the accident occurred.
District Court Judge Herbert Richardson sentenced to Gerald to serve a 60-day sentence, which he suspended, with two years of supervised probation. Gerald was ordered to serve 15 days in the county jail before the conclusion of his two-year probation, according to court records. Gerald was also ordered to pay a $400 fine and court costs.
Gerald also was convicted in April 1992 of a DWI and sentenced to probation, according to the state Department of Correction's Web site. References« NC State Animal Cruelty Map
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