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Case #10802 Rating: 2.6 out of 5
Puppy beaten to death with baseball bat
Fayetteville, NC (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Feb 21, 2007
County: Cumberland
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Gerald Frank Belanger, IV
Case Updates: 4 update(s) available
Deputies charged a Cumberland County man with animal abuse Wednesday after he told them he used a baseball bat to kill a puppy he couldn't house-train.
The man, 53-year-old Gerald Frank Belanger IV of the 2500 block of Odom Farm Road, told investigators that he beat the dog because it urinated in his home.
Even as he was being arrested, Belanger questioned the charge against him. Belanger said the 4 or 5-month-old lab mix puppy he beat to death was a stray, and he was tired of not being able to train the animal.
When asked why he used a baseball bat, he replied, "That's all I had in my hand. I ain't got no gun."
Initially, a Cumberland County Animal Control officer wrote Belanger a citation, which would have allowed him to stay at his home.
But after pressure from the sheriff's department to file a criminal charge and a review of state statutes, Animal Control Director Sue Nicholson said it is a felony case.
"Any accusation of animal cruelty or abuse we take very seriously," said Nicholson.
As Belanger was taken away in handcuffs Wednesday night, he admitted he may have made a mistake.
Case UpdatesAlthough this defendant has been sentenced, officials may still benefit from receiving community feedback regarding the outcome of the case.
Judge W. Russell Dukes, Jr.
Judicial District 3A
P.O. Drawer 835
Greenville, NC 27835
Phone: 252-695-7261
Fax: 252-830-3376
Tips for Effective Letter Writing:
http://www.pet-abuse.com/pages/action_alerts/letter_writing.php | | Update posted on Aug 29, 2007 - 10:48PM |
| According to court records, Gerald Belanger was convicted of felony animal cruelty on July 10, 2007. On August 7, he was sentenced to a suspended 8-month jail sentence, 12 months probation, and fines totaling $950.50. As part of his probation, he is prohibited from owning animals and must submit to periodic drug tests. | Source: Cumberland County Court
Update posted on Aug 10, 2007 - 3:01PM |
Gerald Belanger will appear in court next on May 31 at 9:00 a.m.
Deputies charged the Cumberland County man with animal abuse after he told them he used a baseball bat to kill a puppy he couldn't house-train.
When asked why he used a baseball bat, he reportedly replied, "That's all I had in my hand. I ain't got no gun." | Source: Case # 07-CR-052954
Update posted on Apr 12, 2007 - 3:13PM |
Anyone wishing to write to the district attorney regarding this case may do so at the following address:
The Honorable Edward W. Grannis, Jr.
Cumberland County Courthouse
Suite 427 (Fourth floor)
P.O. Box 363
Fayetteville, N.C. 28302
[Courier Box 14-53-10]
(910) 678-2915
Fax #: (910) 678-2949
Please be sure to reference case #07-CR-052954. | | Update posted on Mar 11, 2007 - 5:08PM |
References« NC State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Cumberland County, NC
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