Attorneys/Judges
| Prosecutor(s): | James N. Butler Jr. | | Defense(s): | Kevin Wigenton | | Judge(s): | Robin T. Wernik |
Dogs starved, two found dead
Neptune, NJ (US)Incident Date: Sunday, Nov 4, 2007
County: Monmouth
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» Jeanie Powell - Convicted
» William Johnson
Case Updates: 3 update(s) available
Investigators say a Tinton Falls woman will be charged with eight counts of animal cruelty after two dead dogs and another two nearly starved to death were found at her home.
Animal abuse experts are calling it one of the worse cases they've ever seen. Investigators say all four dogs were victims of starvation.
The dogs were found in the backyard of Jeanie Powell's home. Powell says a friend owns the dogs and she let him keep them at her house.
"She's telling people they're not her responsibility, but the fact of the matter is after seven days, if you have care, custody and control of any living creature you become responsible for that animal," Victor Amato of the Monmouth County SPCA said.
Powell claims her friend stopped by to feed the dogs and says she never checked on the dogs herself.
The two dogs found alive, 7-month-old terrier mixes named Robin and Raven, have been rehabilitated. The SPCA said just a week has made all the difference. They will be available for adoption this week.
The SPCA says Robin and Raven were able to survive because neighbors threw food over the fence. The dogs also ate rocks and sand.
Case UpdatesMunicipal court Judge Robin T. Wernik issued a bench warrant for an Asbury Park man who failed to appear at his municipal court sentencing on another animal cruelty charge, Amato said.
William Lee Johnson, 49, of Asbury Avenue, allowed two dogs to starve to death at a friend's Neptune home in November, Amato said. A warrant was issued for Johnson's arrest Thursday afternoon, said Victor "Buddy" Amato, the police chief of the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. | Source: Asbury Park Press - Jan 31, 2009
Update posted on Feb 1, 2009 - 10:30PM |
A woman accused of eight counts of abusing four puppies pleaded guilty to a single charge of failing to provide sustenance to an animal after she had the man she said was responsible for starving the four dogs brought to municipal court.
Jeanie Powell, 36, pleaded guilty Thursday night to the disorderly persons offense and was fined $750 and given 30 days community service by Municipal Court Judge Robin T. Wernik. Her attorney, Kevin Wigenton, described it as "a fair plea," noting she should have taken some action to provide for the starving dogs.
Two of the mixed breed puppies died of starvation in her yard on Eighth Avenue in November. The other two dogs recovered and have since been adopted, according to Sgt. Matthew Giuliano of the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Powell had insisted that the dogs belonged to a man she knew only as "Dollar," who investigators could never locate. But after receiving a tip in a letter, she located him in the Monmouth County jail, she said.
That man, William Johnson, 48, of Asbury Park told the court the dogs were his and that he was "taking the weight" for what happened. Giuliano then issued him summonses for eight charges of animal cruelty and the court set Jan. 8 as the date for the charges to be heard.
Municipal Prosecutor James N. Butler Jr. said Williams is facing a substantial amount of jail time if convicted.
Each offense carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, according to the state criminal code.
"I feel like I got convicted for being nice," Powell said. "This is what I get for letting somebody use my yard. I pled guilty to get it all over with."
The SPCA saw it differently, with Giuliano noting the dogs had been reduced to eating gravel in an effort to survive.
"She could see what was happening and she had an obligation to provide sustenance for those dogs," he said. | Source: Asbury Park Press - Oct 23, 2008
Update posted on Oct 25, 2008 - 11:36AM |
A township woman, being sought for a failure to appear in court on animal cruelty charges, was arrested Thursday after she tried to hide from police, authorities said.
Jeanie Powell, 36, was being held in lieu of $3,000 bail after she tried to hide at a neighbor's house as law officers were knocking at the front door of her residence at 1212 8th Ave., said Sgt. Matt Giuliano of the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Giuliano had charged Powell with 10 counts of animal cruelty after a Nov. 7 incident where he said two pit bull mixed breed dogs were found dead and another two near death at her residence.
"The dogs had been left without food or shelter," Giuliano said. "They were reduced to eating rocks and gravel."
Powell told investigators the dogs were not her responsibility, Giuliano said.
Court records show she pleaded not guilty but failed to appear in Neptune Municipal Court for a scheduled trial on July 24. That resulted in Judge Robin Wernik issuing the bench warrant.
Giuliano said his efforts to serve the warrant were hindered by people at Powell's house who repeatedly said she was out of the area.
"She even left a message on my phone telling me she was going to be away in Alabama until Sept. 24 on family business. After that, she said she intended to go to the court and post her bail," he said. | Source: Asbury Park Press - Aug 15, 2008
Update posted on Aug 15, 2008 - 8:46AM |
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