A Fremont man is facing one count of animal torture and two counts of child endangerment stemming from a Feb. 14 incident where it�s alleged he maliciously beat the family pet, an 11-month-old chocolate colored Labrador.
Chad Michael Crosby, 31, is accused of inflicting severe physical pain with a depraved or sadistic intent to cause prolonged suffering or death upon the animal. The two counts of child endangerment stem from the Feb. 14 incident in which Crosby knowingly acted in a manner that created a substantial physical, mental, emotional, health or safety risk to two children under the age of 14.
All three charges are aggravated misdemeanors, with each one punishable by up to a maximum of two years in prison and/or a maximum fine of $6,250 per charge.
Misty White, assistant county attorney, said anyone convicted of an aggravated misdemeanor and whose sentence is greater than one year, must serve it in prison, while anything under one year can be served in the county jail.
Mahaska County Attorney Rose Anne Mefford had no comment concerning the case but did say Crosby�s arraignment is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. March 19.
Joel Yates, Crosby�s attorney, said his client would have no comment on the matter.
Mahaska County Deputy Matt McCain spells out in the complaint and affidavit the events leading to Crosby�s late afternoon arrest on Feb. 26.
McCain writes, Crosby at approximately 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14, at 218 N. Kennedy in Fremont, �while in an enraged state beat a family-owned canine with a frying pan two separate times in which the dog did cry and howl out of pain. The beatings continued until the dog did defecate on the floor and urinate on himself and the floor because of the beating that took place. The beating was not done out of any sort of punishment for something the animal had done. It was merely to inflict severe pain and prolonged suffering on the animal because the defendant was mad at his girlfriend. The dog became the victim in an argument between the two.�
Gabby Evans, director of the Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter in Oskaloosa, said Dr. Lisa King with Mahaska Vet Clinic initially examined the dog, named �Kane.� Kane was taken to Avondale Veterinary Healthcare Complex in Des Moines, at the suggestion of Dr. King.
Evans said Kane had a broken pelvis, a broken canine tooth and a crushed molar and had major surgery to repair a fractured femur bone due to the beating. Kane�s past injuries include a pelvic fracture, left elbow fracture with a free piece of bone and significant arthritis around the joint, all of which may require surgery in the future.
Evans said more than $4,000 has been donated to Stephen Memorial in Kane�s name to help cover Kane�s $2,000 medical bill.
Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter is still accepting donations for Kane and Evans said any money left over would go to a Kane Fund to be used for abused and neglected animals.
Evans said she would like to see cases of animal cruelty or neglect in Iowa become a class C felony.
�Iowa really needs to get tougher on their animal neglect and abuse laws,� Evans said. �There are very lax compared to a lot of other states.�
Evans said Kane is currently in a foster home and he is recovering from his injuries. Case UpdatesChad Michael Crosby�s pre-trial conference scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Monday was postponed so Judge Michael R. Stewart could hear a motion for change of venue filed by Crosby�s attorney, Joel Yates.
Crosby stands accused of one count of animal torture and two counts of child endangerment stemming from a Feb. 14 incident where it has been alleged he maliciously beat the family pet while endangering two children.
The motion for change of trial venue filed April 12 by Yates cites excessive local press coverage of Crosby�s alleged charges and asks the court to support the change based on �substantial local publicity has been involved with this case; most notably, numerous front-page articles in the Oskaloosa newspaper.�
The motion also mentions, �That such a degree of prejudice exists in Mahaska County that there is a substantial likelihood that the defendant cannot receive a fair and impartial trial in Mahaska County.�
Judge Stewart declined to hand down a ruling Monday afternoon because he said he was not familiar with the 1990 case Rose Anne Mefford, Mahaska County attorney, used to argue the county�s objection to the motion. Judge Stewart said he would rule on the motion at a later date. He will also set a new date for the pre-trial conference.
�When we pick a jury, both sides, the attorney�s, are looking for any preconceived notions, any knowledge about this case, any bias,� Mefford said. �And it�s the states position that if anybody has read the articles he referred to, that when we ask them that, they�re going to say during the �voir-dire� process. And if they�ve already formed an opinion, they�ll get excused from the process.�
Crosby has waived his right to a speedy trial.
In the complaint and affidavit, Mahaska County Deputy, Matt McCain, spells out the events leading up to Crosby�s late afternoon arrest on Feb. 26.
McCain writes, at approximately 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14, at 218 N. Kennedy in Fremont, Crosby, �while in an enraged state beat a family-owned canine with a frying pan two separate times in which the dog did cry and howl out of pain. The beatings continued until the dog did defecate on the floor and urinate on himself and the floor because of the beating that took place. The beating was not done out of any sort of punishment for something the animal had done. It was merely to inflict severe pain and prolonged suffering on the animal because the defendant was mad at his girlfriend. The dog became the victim in an argument between the two.�
The dog in question is an 11-month-old chocolate colored Labrador named �Kane.�
The two counts of child endangerment stem from the same incident in which Crosby is accused of knowingly acting in a manner that created a substantial physical, mental, emotional, health or safety risk to two children under the age of 14.
All three charges are aggravated misdemeanors, with each one punishable by up to a maximum of two years in prison and/or a maximum fine of $6,250 per charge. | Source: The Oskaloosa Herald - May 1, 2007
Update posted on May 31, 2007 - 12:38AM |
Sympathy over a dog severely beaten with a frying pan has led to $14,000 in donations to help pay for its medical care.
The Labrador, named Kane, suffered a broken leg and hip and fractured teeth last month, officials said.
Chad Michael Crosby, 31, has pleaded not guilty to one count of animal torture and two counts of child endangerment. His girlfriend's two children were home at the time, officials said.
Since stories about the beating first appeared in the media, the Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter has received numerous cards, letters and e-mails, shelter director Gabby Evans said.
"The outpouring of love and caring for the dog has been absolutely tremendous," Evans said.
Kane's medical expenses have already reached $6,000 (�4,495), and the dog will need two more operations.
"We started a new fund for whatever money is left over that will be earmarked for abused and neglected animals," Evans said.
If convicted, Crosby could face up to two years in prison on each charge and a fine of up to $6,250 (�4,682) per charge.
Meanwhile, Kane is doing well, Evans said.
"He's very, very happy � he hasn't lost his spunk," she said. | Source: International Herald Tribune - March 27, 2007
Update posted on Mar 28, 2007 - 4:08PM |
A Fremont man has pleaded not guilty to animal torture and child endangerment charges after officials say he beat a Labrador with a frying pan. Chad Michael Crosby, 31, is accused of beating the dog at his girlfriend�s house when her two children were at home. They are under age 14.
He faces one count of animal torture and two counts of child endangerment.
Crosby, who�s on pretrial release, pleaded not guilty in a written arraignment on March 19.
Officials said the dog was left with a broken pelvis and crushed teeth. He also had surgery to repair a fractured femur bone, and is now at a foster home recovering from injuries.
If convicted, Crosby faces a maximum sentence of up to two years in prison on each charge and/or a find of up to $6,250 per charge.
A pretrial hearing is set for April 30. | Source: Globe Gazette - March 23, 2007
Update posted on Mar 23, 2007 - 10:56PM |
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