CONVICTED: Was justice served?
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Case #1130 Rating: 2.7 out of 5
Kitten kicked, doused in alcohol, set on fire
Saint Joseph, IN (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Jul 31, 2002
County: St Joseph
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Freddie Nelson
The kitten, whom Animal Aid workers nicknamed Ice, was burned so severely, rescuers and the veterinarian who treated it were unable to tell if it was a male or female. It received its most serious burns to its ears, eyes and genitalia.
The kitten survived about three weeks after it was burned but died 15 minutes after a surgery. Animal Aid worker Sue Burkhard said the cat could not bear the stress of a surgery and its burns.
Nelson was sentenced to 90 days in jail.
"I was very disappointed, very disappointed," said Sue Burkhard, vice president of Animal Aid of Southwestern Michigan.
Burkhard rescued the 9-week-old, gray-and-white kitten in August after Nelson kicked it, doused it with the alcohol he was drinking, and lit it on fire.
Calling the sentencing "ludicrous," Burkhard said it was a "slap in the face to the people in Berrien County who go out 24 hours a day, seven days a week who rescue these animals ... that nobody else cares about."
In response, Berrien County Trial Judge John Hammond pointed out the jail time he imposed was more than what was recommended by court's probation department and that the fines, costs and restitution of $1,930 was adequate.
Nelson, 33, has already served 38 days in jail for the Aug. 17 incident.
The felony charge of killing or torturing animals can bring up to four years in prison or a $5,000 fine upon conviction.
Berrien County Assistant Prosecutor Caryn Hebets said sentencing guidelines in Nelson's case prohibited prison time and had a range of two to 12 months in jail. Hammond also sentenced Nelson to three years probation, which was higher than the probation department recommendation of 18 months, he said. References
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