CONVICTED: Was justice served?
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Case #11483 Rating: 4.3 out of 5
Dog stabbed, survives attack
Toms River, NJ (US)Incident Date: Saturday, Feb 26, 2005
County: Ocean
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Mark Smith
A 36-year-old Toms River man was ordered to perform 50 hours of community service and sentenced today to 18 months on probation and 141 days he has already served in the Ocean County Jail for stabbing a dog belonging to his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend in 2005.
Superior Court Judge Wendel E. Daniels imposed the sentence on Mark Smith for animal cruelty.
Assistant Ocean County Prosecutor Bridget Coughlin said Smith stabbed the dog to get back at his ex-girlfriend for their soured relationship.
Deputy Assistant Public Defender Richard Archer disputed that, saying Smith was at his ex-girlfriend's house with her permission to retrieve his belongings when the canine, a pit bull, became aggressive, prompting him to kick it in self defense. The dog then fell on something and cut itself, requiring stitches, Archer said.
Officer Thomas Yanisko of the New Jersey State S.P.C.A. investigated the incident that occurred on Feb. 26, 2005 and said, "Our position is, this was a premeditated act against an innocent dog as a form of revenge for this relationship that went bad.''
The 7-year-old male pit bull named "Lex'' survived the attack, Yanikso said. References« NJ State Animal Cruelty Map
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