Cats killed by SPCA employee - Eatontown, NJ

Monday, Mar 1, 2010

County: Monmouth

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Daniel Mann

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

An attendant with the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has been charged with animal cruelty after authorities say he killed two cats as they recovered from surgery at the agency.

Daniel Mann, 31, of 12th Avenue, Belmar was arrested Monday afternoon and charged with two counts of animal cruelty.

He was hired about 18 months ago and his job was to take care of animals, but around 3:15 p.m. Monday, a couple of employees glanced into the well room at the Wall Street building and saw Mann abusing the animals, said Victor "Buddy" Amato, the chief of the Monmouth County SPCA.

He strangled one cat with a leash, and then dangled a second one in the air from its leash, said Amato.

Mann then threw the cat to the ground, head first, said Eatontown Detective Sgt. Mark McGowan.

Mann repeatedly whipped that second cat to the ground, said Amato.

The woman employees, who were initially stunned, ran for help, he said.

Both cats were later found in a nearby Dumpster, said McGowan.

One of the adult cats was recovering from eye surgery, while the other had recently been spayed or neutered, said Amato.

Both were almost ready to be put up for adoption.

"It's a terrible, horrible event, and this is why we exist, to stop cruelty," said Laurie Garrison, who became the executive director of the agency five weeks ago, after the previous director retired.

As she spoke, she choked up.

"It's just again, reinforcing why again the SPCA has to be here, and it makes it even more important that we do the work we do," she said.

Mann is being held at the Monmouth County Jail, Freehold Township, in lieu of $20,000 bail.

The animal cruelty charges are third-degree offenses, and upon conviction, they carry three- to five-year prison terms.

Mann has previously spent time behind bars.

He was sentenced to six years in state prison in 2004, on charges including burglary, eluding, and theft, according to the state Department of Corrections Web site. He has been out of state prison since October 2007.

Garrison said Mann has been fired. Starting immediately, the backgrounds of all job applicants will be severely screened, said Amato.

Eatontown Detective Theresa Healy and Sgt. Troy Fowlkes were also involved in the investigation.

Garrison said her agency is cooperating fully with the investigation, and a grief counselor has been called to assist the staff and volunteers.

"The death of these animals is without question a tragic event, but it is more than that," she said. "Occurring as it did in our shelter, a place of compassion and love, it strikes at the core of what the Monmouth County SPCA stands for. As the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, we are committed to prosecuting animal cruelty. This case is no different and is yet another reminder of the need for our efforts to prevent animal cruelty."

Case Updates

A judge this morning sentenced a Belmar man to two years in prison for killing two cats while working at the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Under the terms of the sentence handed down by state Superior Court Judge Anthony J. Mellaci Jr., Daniel I. Mann, 32, must also reimburse the MCSPCA $852 for the necropsies performed on the two cats earlier this year. Mellaci also ordered Mann to perform 360 hours of community service at a place where no animals are present. Mann has credit for 277 days he's already spent in jail since his arrest. Mann said he wanted to apologize to his former co-workers at the MCSPCA and to his family for the shame his actions have brought to them. On Aug. 18, he pleaded guilty to two counts of animal cruelty, both fourth-degree offenses, admitting he killed the two cats, but blaming stress. Mann told the judge that while he was cleaning out the cats' cages, he "snapped" and slammed one cat on the floor, and strangled the other cat with a leather leash, authorities said. Both animals had been recovering from surgery �" one had been spayed or neutered and the other had undergone eye surgery. Both would have been offered for adoption. In making his argument for a probationary sentence, Long Branch-based defense attorney John F. Hazard said he was not trying to diminish the March 1 death of the two cats, but he said his client loved his job and loved working with animals. He said what happened was not reflective of Mann's life and true feelings toward animals, but was reflective of his mental state. Mann has been diagnosed as bipolar and since May, has been taking medication for his condition, said Hazard, who asked the judge to impose a five-year probationary term, with the condition that Mann spend a year in the county jail. But Assistant Prosecutor Brian A. Heyesey said the SPCA is a safe-haven for abandoned and abused animals and Mann breached the trust of his co-workers there. The Belmar man had worked at facility for about 18 months. In imposing sentence, Mellaci said he would follow the plea agreement, which called for consecutive one-year terms for each count of animal cruelty.

Source: courierpostonline.com - Dec 3, 2010 Update posted on Dec 3, 2010 - 6:16PM

References

• « NJ State Animal Cruelty Map
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