Attorneys/Judges
| Prosecutor(s): | Wes Bradford | | Defense(s): | Sam Pasthing | | Judge(s): | Gordon Webb |
CONVICTED: Was justice served?
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Case #14263 Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Dogs shocked with cattle prod
Jasper, AR (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Nov 7, 2007
County: Newton
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Larry Cummings
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
The Humane Society of the United States says a recent Newton County criminal case illustrates the need for stricter animal cruelty laws in Arkansas.
Forty-one-year-old Larry Cummings was charged Friday after allegedly burglarizing the home of Gladys Morse on November 7th and encouraging a 15-year-old to kick and stomp Morse's dogs.
Prosecutors say Cummings entered a dog pen that same day, on the property of Eula Finch, and used a cattle prod to repeatedly shock two small dogs.
Cummings, who has at least four prior felony convictions, was charged as an habitual offender with felony burglary, two counts of animal cruelty, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Prosecutors say Cummings burglarized Morse's home to hurt the dogs.
Case UpdatesTwo suspects are charged with severely beating dogs in the small town of Hasty, Arkansas in Newton County.
The whole thing was caught on tape and those who have seen the tape say it's one of the most disturbing things they've ever seen.
A 41-year-old man and 15-year-old boy videotaped themselves shocking small dogs with a cattle prod, so badly some of those dogs started bleeding. Both are now behind bars in Harrison, Arkansas.
41-year-old Larry Cummings is charged with two counts of animal cruelty and one count of residential burglary. His accomplice, that 15-year-old boy, is charged with the very same crimes.
The Newton County sheriff's department says it arrested the two last week after the tape surfaced in another unrelated trial. That tape shows four different scenes that shows the suspects abusing small dogs.
In one scene, Cummings apparently enters the dog pen and uses a cattle prod to repeatedly shock a small white dog. Other scenes show dogs shocked with their mouths open. The juvenile is also seen repeatedly kicking and stomping other dogs.
The Humane Society of the United States is using this case as an example of why Arkansas needs stricter animal cruelty laws. And that's something Newton County, Arkansas Sheriff Keith Slape agrees with.
"As a sheriff, yes I do. I feel they should. In the state of Arkansas, they're considered misdemeanors. But the animal cruelty that we've seen in Madison County, Newton County and some other counties that have had this problem this year were disturbing enough to be a felony charge in my opinion." says Slape.
The abuse happened on a relative's property of that 15-year-old suspect. The actual tape dates back to November 2007, when these alleged activities took place.
Neighbors say they first reported the animal cruelty back in February. The sheriff's department confirms that, but didn't have the resources to investigate.
So until late week, investigators hadn't looked at the tape at all. That's when they made the arrest. | Source: Ozarks First - Aug 1, 2008
Update posted on Aug 1, 2008 - 11:07PM |
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