Police officer neglecting pet dog Hamilton, OH (US) Incident Date: Tuesday, Feb 16, 1999 County: Butler Local Map: available Disposition: Convicted Abuser/Suspect: Robert Eastham

Case ID: 1223 Classification: Neglect / Abandonment Animal: dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in OH (US) Login to Watch this Case

Robert Eastham of Fairfield Township, a part-time Monroe police officer, was convicted and fined $250 plus court costs and sentenced to 30 days in jail after pleading no contest to the misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty after his dog was found to be malnourished and nearly dead.  in Butler County Area II Court.

Judge John Connaughton suspended the jail sentence on the condition that Mr. Eastham give up the dog, pay $860 in veterinarian bills and perform three days of community service at the animal shelter in St. Clair Township.

Butler County chief dog warden Marie Marksbury said she received a tip Feb. 16 that something was wrong with Mr. Eastham's 41/2-year-old male black Labrador retriever.

"When we found it, it was in very poor condition and probably wouldn't have have made it through the night," Ms. Marksbury said.

The dog was treated at Brookside Animal Hospital in Hamilton and is in the custody of the Humane Association of Butler County, where it is up for adoption. Ms. Marksbury said the dog weighed 23 pounds when it was found. A dog its size should weigh about 50 pounds, she said.

Neither Mr. Eastham nor his attorney, Richard Koehler, could be reached for comment Wednesday.

Monroe Police Chief Ernest Howard said the police department does not anticipate taking any action against him.

"I know he's got horses and there's never been anything wrong with them," Chief Howard said.

Mr. Eastham has worked for the department about two years and averages two to three shifts a week. He works full time as a machinist, Chief Howard said.

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