Attorneys/Judges
| Prosecutor(s): | Pamela Jean Games-Neely | | Defense(s): | Nicholas Colvin, Thomas Stanley | | Judge(s): | Gina M. Groh, Harry L. Snow |
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Case #14948 Rating: 1.0 out of 5
Dog locked in attic, mouth duct-taped, starved
Martinsburg, WV (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Nov 12, 2008
County: Berkeley
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 2 files available
Defendants/Suspects:
» Randall Craig Siford, Jr. - Alleged
» Breshannon Leslie Deveraux
Case Updates: 7 update(s) available
Animal control officers are calling it one of the worst cases of animal abuse they've seen.
A pit bull was found in an attic with evidence that its mouth had been duct-taped shut and chained.
The three-year-old dog was emaciated, neglected and abused, with open wounds on its face.
Witnesses say the abuse had gone on for weeks.
Berkeley County Animal Control and city police found the dog Wednesday.
On Thursday police arrested Randall Siford, Jr. and Breshannon Devereux.
Angela Brown moved into the neighborhood recently and has two pit bulls of her own. She says she never knew the two had a dog because she never saw them with one before.
Statements given to police say the dog named Ice was beaten repeatedly.
"That saddens me because pit bulls already have a bad name, and it's because of stuff like that I think that's why half of them are viscous," Brown said.
Ice is now getting a warmer reception in the hands of Berkeley County Animal Control until the case goes to court.
Riford and Devereaux are charged with felony animal cruelty. If they're not convicted, Ice will be turned back over to them.
Felony animal cruelty carries a maximum five-year sentence in West Virginia.
Case UpdatesA woman accused of abusing a pit bull entered a guilty plea Monday to one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty.
The animal was found by authorities in the attic of a Martinsburg home in November 2008 with open wounds and its ribs showing.
Breshannon L. Deveraux, 34, of Martinsburg, was ordered to pay a $300 fine and complete 200 hours of community service as part of the plea agreement. She was placed on unsupervised probation for two years and was referred to the Day Report Center to complete a yet-to-be specified program. A one-year jail sentence was suspended and four remaining misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty were dismissed.
The plea entered Monday comes several months after Deveraux backed out of an agreement last year to enter a guilty plea to one felony count of animal cruelty filed by the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney’s office.
Deveraux’s decision not to enter the plea prompted Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Stephanie Saunders to request the case be remanded for possible grand jury indictment.
Prosecuting Attorney Pamela Jean Games-Neely has said that her office decided not to pursue a felony indictment because evidence of intentional torture and mutilation, required elements for the more serious offense of animal cruelty, were not met.
Since being rescued, the dog has recovered from its injuries and was adopted, animal control officers have said. | Source: herald-mail.com - Mar 22, 2010
Update posted on Mar 23, 2010 - 12:34PM |
Five misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty have replaced a felony animal cruelty charge against a Martinsburg woman who was charged after authorities in November 2008 found a pit bull with open wounds and ribs showing in the attic of a Martinsburg home, according to court records.
Breshannon Leslie Deveraux, 34, was released on a $12,500 personal recognizance bond set Tuesday by Berkeley County Magistrate Sandra L. Miller, according to court records.
In July 2009, Deveraux backed out of an agreement to enter a guilty plea to one felony count of animal cruelty filed by the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney’s office.
Deveraux’s decision not to enter the plea prompted Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Stephanie Saunders to request the case be remanded for possible grand jury indictment.
Prosecuting Attorney Pamela Jean Games-Neely said Wednesday her office decided not to pursue a felony indictment because evidence of intentional torture and mutilation, required elements for the more serious offense of animal cruelty, were not met.
Six days after being arrested in the animal cruelty case, Deveraux was charged with one misdemeanor count of solicitation of prostitution, according to court records. In March 2009, she entered a guilty plea to the charge, records show. She was given credit for serving 105 days in jail and no additional sentence was added.
Since being rescued, the dog has recovered from its injuries and was adopted, animal control officers have said. | Source: Herald-Mail - Nov 6, 2009
Update posted on Nov 9, 2009 - 3:54AM |
A woman charged with animal cruelty in November 2008 after authorities found a pit bull with open wounds and ribs showing in the attic of a Martinsburg home is scheduled to be sentenced in May.
Breshannon Leslie Deveraux, 33, remains incarcerated at Eastern Regional Jail on $2,500 bond, an amount set Thursday by 23rd Judicial Circuit Judge Gina M. Groh.
Deveraux is expected to be placed on probation in lieu of a one- to five-year prison sentence that will be suspended as part of a plea letter she has signed, Berkeley County Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Quasebarth said after the hearing. Deveraux also would be prohibited from owning or having contact with animals upon her conviction on the felony charge, Quasebarth said.
Groh has the discretion to set the terms and length of probation and the plea still is pending before the court, Quasebarth said.
Defense attorney Nicholas Colvin said Thursday his client had been in jail 120 days, which appears to have met a four-month jail term outlined in the binding plea agreement as a term of probation.
Quasebarth agreed, but argued against Colvin's request that his client be released Thursday on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond.
Since being rescued, the dog has recovered and been adopted, animal control officers have said.
Deveraux has been in Eastern Regional Jail since Nov. 18, when she was arrested on a misdemeanor count of solicitation of prostitution, prompting the court to revoke her $10,000 bond.
Earlier this month, Deveraux entered a guilty plea to the prostitution charge and was credited for serving 105 days in jail and no additional sentence was added to resolve the misdemeanor case. She was ordered to pay a $50 fine and court costs. | Source: Herald-Mail - March 20, 2009
Update posted on Mar 22, 2009 - 10:18PM |
If you wish to contact the prosecutor in this case to urge for vigorous prosecution, contact:
Pamela Jean Games-Neely, Prosecuting Attorney for Berkeley County
380 West South Street, Suite 1100
Martinsburg, WV 25401
ph: 304-264-1971; fax: 304-263-6092
*email: [email protected]
(Thanks to Kinship Circle for this information - to learn more about Kinship Circle, | | Update posted on Jan 3, 2009 - 4:04PM |
A pit bull found chained in the attic of a Martinsburg home Nov. 12 with open wounds and ribs showing had gained 10 pounds by Tuesday �" when two residents charged with abusing the animal were scheduled to make their first court appearance on felony counts of animal cruelty.
Since being rescued from 252 E. Burke St., the dog has received medical care from Martinsburg Animal Hospital and is recovering, but it remains in the custody of Berkeley County Animal Control, supervising officer Donna McMahan said Tuesday.
McMahan joined Animal Control officers in Berkeley County Magistrate Court on Tuesday afternoon for preliminary hearings scheduled for Breshannon Leslie Deveraux, 33, of 252 E. Burke St., Martinsburg, and Randall Craig Siford Jr., 34.
Deveraux has been in Eastern Regional Jail since Nov. 18, when she was arrested on a misdemeanor count of solicitation of prostitution. She waived her right to have a preliminary hearing within 20 days of her arrest on the animal cruelty charge. The hearing will be rescheduled.
Siford failed to appear for his hearing and was put in jail Tuesday evening, less than five hours after Magistrate Jim Humphrey issued a warrant for his arrest, according to jail records. Siford listed the same address as Deveraux when he was arraigned, court officials said.
Deveraux's $10,000 bond for the animal cruelty case was revoked last week when police allege she solicited sexual favors in exchange for money from a confidential informant in the 300 block of South Rosemont Avenue, according to court records.
She had $60 of "recorded currency" used by the informant in her purse, police have said.
In court Tuesday, Thomas Stanley, Deveraux's court-appointed attorney for the animal cruelty charge, told Humphrey he was unable to represent the woman in the prostitution case because of a conflict.
Stanley did not say why he advised his client to reschedule the hearing, and Berkeley County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Stephanie Saunders confirmed he was not obligated to provide a reason. Stanley used the magistrate's telephone at the bench after he arrived to confirm he was actually appointed to represent Deveraux. | Source: Herald-Mail - Nov 25, 2008
Update posted on Mar 22, 2009 - 10:17PM |
A woman charged last week with abusing a pit bull that was found chained in the attic of a home with open wounds and ribs showing has been charged with solicitation of prostitution, the Martinsburg Police Department said Wednesday.
Breshannon Leslie Deveraux, 33, of 252 E. Burke St. in Martinsburg, allegedly solicited sexual favors in exchange for money from a confidential informant Tuesday afternoon in the 300 block of South Rosemont Avenue, police said.
Deveraux was taken into custody Tuesday shortly after Martinsburg Police Department Detective Cpl. S.F. Doyle said she solicited the informant about 4:15 p.m., according to the officer's complaint.
She had $60 of "recorded currency" used by the informant in her purse, police said.
Berkeley County Magistrate Harry L. Snow set a $5,000 bond for the defendant in an arraignment hearing Tuesday.
Last Thursday, Deveraux was released from custody on a $10,000 bond after being arraigned on one felony count of cruelty to animals.
She and a man who shared the same Burke Street address with her were charged with animal cruelty after authorities responded to a complaint about a dog being abused.
Found chained in the attic of the home in poor health, the pit bull was beaten and deprived of food over a number of weeks, police said witnesses reported.
The dog was extremely skinny and had an open wound all the way around its snout and under its lower jaw, Martinsburg Police Department Patrolman W.A. Parks said in a complaint filed in the case.
One witness said Deveraux beat the dog and refused to feed the canine because she didn't want it to defecate in the home, according to Parks' investigation.
Another witness told police that a chain was wrapped around the dog's mouth so tight while it was being walked by Deveraux that the animal could not open its mouth, police said.
A person convicted of a felony count of animal cruelty could be sentenced to up to five years in jail and be fined up to $5,000, according to Parks' complaint.
An individual convicted of solicitation of prostitution could be sentenced to up to six months in jail and fined up to $100, according to Doyle's complaint. | Source: Herald-Mail - Nov 19, 2008
Update posted on Mar 22, 2009 - 10:16PM |
Two Martinsburg residents are accused of abusing a pit bull that was found chained in the attic of a home with open wounds on its nose and mouth, which authorities said Friday had been duct taped shut to keep it from barking.
Randall Craig Siford Jr., 34, and Breshannon Leslie Deveraux, 33, both of 252 E. Burke St., were charged with felony counts of animal cruelty, according to police and Berkeley County Magistrate Court records.
A $10,000 bond was set for each defendant in arraignment hearings Thursday night and Friday morning by Magistrate JoAnn Overington and Jim Humphrey, according to court records.
Witnesses told police that the dog had been beaten and deprived of food over a number of weeks, police said in a complaint filed with the court.
"The dog was extremely skinny and had an open wound all the way around its snout and under its lower jaw," Martinsburg Police Department Patrolman W.A. Parks said in a complaint against the defendants.
The wound was about three quarters of an inch wide and loose skin was hanging from the snout of the dog, which had trouble standing and was visibly shaking, Parks said.
The police department and Berkeley County Animal Control officers investigated a report of animal cruelty Wednesday night at the East Burke Street residence and arrested the defendants Thursday. Siford was arrested after he was found hiding in the house, police said.
The dog's apparent neglect and abuse ranked among the "top five" cases of animal cruelty in the city, police said Friday.
All of the dog's ribs were "showing" and it is being treated for its injuries, which a veterinarian determined would require extensive medical treatment in order for the canine to recover some semblance of health, supervising animal control officer Donna McMahan said Friday.
A witness told police that Deveraux beat the dog and refused to feed the canine because she didn't want it to defecate in the home, according to Parks' complaint.
Another witness told police that she saw a chain wrapped around the dog's mouth so tight while it was being walked by Deveraux that the animal could not open its mouth, Parks said.
McMahan said the veterinarian determined that the dog had suffered from "strangulation of blood supply to (its) muzzle." | Source: Herald-Mail - Nov 14, 2008
Update posted on Mar 22, 2009 - 10:15PM |
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