Dog beaten, dies from aspiration of food - Boca Raton, FL

Thursday, Oct 7, 2010

County: Palm Beach

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Shane Michael Thompson

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

A gay porn actor was arrested and charged with animal cruelty Wednesday after authorities alleged that he killed his dog and then took it to an animal clinic to have it cremated.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office charged Shane Michael Thompson, 20, of suburban Boca Raton in the death of his dog "Moonshine," a three-legged all white wolf-dog mix.

In court this morning, Thompson refused to appear.

Palm Beach County Assistant State Attorney Mary Ann Duggan asked he be held in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Palm Beach County Jail records show no previous arrests. But, Duggan told Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Ted S. Booras, "There's an extreme violence issue where the next step could be taken on the neighbor. There's a clear pattern of violence."

Booras, rather than resetting a bond hearing, ordered Thompson, in abstentia, be held without bond and set another hearing for Saturday.

According to a probable cause arrest affidavit, on the morning of Oct. 7, Thompson took the deceased dog to the Cole Animal Clinic on North Federal Highway in Boca Raton to have it cremated. Thompson told clinic staff that the dog had died that morning, possibly due to a seizure, according to the affidavit. But an examination by a veterinarian technician showed signs of blunt force trauma, and further examination by an attending veterinarian indicated that the dog had died from some sort of suffocation, most likely choking, the affidavit stated.

A necropsy showed that the dog suffered severe blunt force trauma prior to death, and that the cause of death is believed to be asphyxiation due to aspiration of food.

Witnesses told investigators that Thompson hit the dog on several occasions. A roommate said that he and Thompson acquired the dog, named Moonshine, in February. In interviews with investigators, Thomson stated that his actions were attempts to teach the dog discipline.

Thompson is a gay porn actor known by the stage name Jason Creed, authorities said. According to the police report, he and his roommate bought the dog when it was a puppy in February 2010.

When his roommate arrived home from work on Oct. 7, Moonshine lay dead on the floor. Thompson said the dog tried to bite him, but never explained how he died. A friend of Thompson's called Palm Beach County Animal Control that same day and said he believed Thompson had killed his pet. He said Thompson had called asking for money to pay for the cremation.

Animal control investigators had been called to the apartment twice since February after getting complaints that the puppy was heard yelping in pain. But the dog was unhurt and didn't seem scared, Walesky said, so they gave him a warning.

"There are a lot of people who are heavy-handed, but that's not a reason to take their dog away," Walesky said. "We can do something if the dog is hurt or terrified of someone."

Case Updates

A man who tried to have his dog's body cremated appeared before a judge in bond court Saturday morning. Shane Michael Thompson was charged with animal cruelty and was granted a $10,000 bond. Police say Thompson beat and choked his puppy to death. Apparently, he took his dead, three-legged dog to Cole Animal Clinic in Boca Raton on Oct. 7, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. Thompson told the staff that his pet, a wolf-dog mix, had died that morning, possibly from a seizure. Technicians at the clinic found trauma signs and called authorities.

Source: wptv.com - Oct 23, 2010 Update posted on Oct 23, 2010 - 1:55PM

References

• - Oct 21, 2010

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