Animal Abuse: 12-week-old puppy kicked more than 18 feet - Northport, MI

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Case ID: 17578

Classification: Kicking/Stomping

Animal: dog (pit-bull)

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Attorneys/Judges

Prosecutor(s):	Joseph T. Hubbell
Judge(s):	Thomas G. Power

CONVICTED: Was justice served?

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Case #17578 Rating: 2.5 out of 5

12-week-old puppy kicked more than 18 feet
Northport, MI (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Mar 16, 2011
County: Leelanau

Charges: Felony CTA, Felony Non-CTA
Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Maurice Skyler Francis

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

A man is accused of kicking a 12-week-old puppy more than 18 feet into a wood wheelchair ramp in Leelanau County. The puppy died from internal injuries from the attack.

Maurice Francis is behind bars charged with his 3rd drunk driving offense, malicious destruction of property and felony animal abuse.

It happened Wednesday in Northport.

The Leelanau County Sheriff's Office says Francis showed up at his father's home intoxicated. When his dad refused to let him in the home he went on a rampage, kicking the puppy and then breaking windows on his father's car.

After he took off his dad called deputies and told them what happened.

When deputies arrived they called animal control and tried to coax the puppy out of a hiding place underneath the ramp but the puppy didn't move. After they managed to remove the ramp they found the dog unresponsive.

"We wrapped it in a blanket and rushed it to the veterinarian in Lake Leelanau," explains Deputy Mary Patterson. "They were able to warm the puppy up. It was actually cold to the touch. They did all kinds of heating blankets, heating pads, IV's and the puppy came around, however they feel that some of the injuries due to the events at the house caused the death of the puppy."

Francis, who is from Mt. Pleasant, was arrested by deputies just outside Traverse City.

If found guilty of the crimes, Francis faces 1-5 years in prison for the 3rd OWI, 5 years for malicious destruction of property and 4 years in prison for the felony animal cruelty charge.

Case Updates

A Mount Pleasant man charged with kicking and killing a puppy in Leelanau County will spend up to five years in prison.

Maurice Francis was sentenced Monday in Leelanau County. He was given 1 1/2 to 5 years in prison for his 3rd drunk driving offense, and 1 to 4 years for animal cruelty and torture.

The crime happened in March at a home in Northport. Francis showed up at his fathers house and when he wasn't allowed in the home he went on a rampage and kicked the 12-week-old puppy 18 feet.

Source: upnorthlive.com - Jun 6, 2011
Update posted on Jun 6, 2011 - 2:11PM

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A 21-year-old Mt. Pleasant man pleaded guilty Monday to third offense felony drunk driving and killing a dog in the 13th Circuit Court.

Maurice S. Francis of 3770 Digwaagi Ln., Mt. Pleasant, made the plea before Judge Thomas G. Power. In exchange, county Prosecutor Joseph T. Hubbell dropped a charge of malicious destruction of property $1,000 or more. Power accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for June 6. Francis was remanded to the county jail until sentencing, but was allowed to attend his grandfather's funeral on Tuesday.

Francis was previously convicted of drunk driving on Dec. 18, 2008. On July 17, 2009 he was ticketed for having an elevated blood alcohol level while driving as a minor. Court files did not indicate his blood alcohol level for the offenses.

According to court documents, at some point between the evening of March 15 and the morning of March 16 Francis and his brother, Byron, got into a fight with Maurice receiving several cuts and bruises to his face. The two brothers, Byron's girlfriend, their son and two dogs, Blu, a 12-week-old pit bull puppy, and Bonnie, an 18-month-old terrier, were visiting from Grand Rapids. The group was staying at the home of the brothers' father in Leelanau Township.

Byran's girlfriend, Jamie Chamberlain, had previously testified that around 8:30 a.m. on March 16, she got up to let her two dogs out. About a half-hour later she was awoken when Byron Francis ran into their room and Chamberlain heard one of her dogs "scream."

Before Power accepted the plea bargain, Francis said he had kicked the dog, according to Hubbell. The puppy Blu was found at the father's home later that morning by county Sheriff's Deputy Mary Patterson. The puppy was pushed under the low end of a handicap-accessible ramp that goes to the home. Patterson said at the preliminary hearing that Maurice Francis left the scene before she had arrived. Patterson put out a "be on the lookout" advisory over the county dispatch radio.

County Sheriff's Deputy Duane Wright testified at the hearing that he pulled Francis over near the intersection of Bugai and Lincoln Roads. Wright said he noticed blood on Francis' face and he smelled of alcohol and had bloodshot eyes. Wright administered a field sobriety test to Francis, which he failed. He took Francis into custody, and took him to Munson Medical Center for treatment of his wounds. While there Francis agreed to a blood test to test for alcohol. Francis registered a .14 blood alcohol content (BAC). A person is considered drunk with a .08 BAC.

Francis faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $5,000 for the third offense felony drunk driving charge. On the animal killing charge the maximum penalty is four years in prison, a $5,000 fine, payment of veterinary care costs and he would be prohibited from owning an animal.

Source: leelanaunews.com - May 8, 2011
Update posted on Jun 6, 2011 - 2:05PM

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12-week-old puppy kicked more than 18 feet Northport, MI (US)

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12-week-old puppy kicked more than 18 feet
Northport, MI (US)