Attorneys/Judges
| Prosecutor(s): | Rachel E. Pilkington | | Defense(s): | Thomas J. Eoannou | | Judge(s): | Debra L. Givens |
Pug stomped, 7 broken ribs, dies
Buffalo, NY (US)Incident Date: Monday, Feb 15, 2010
County: Erie
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Dismissed (Conditional)
Person of Interest: Adam Shevins
Adam Shevins was ordered today to spend the coming weekend in jail and submit to a mental health assessment for admittedly causing the death of his girlfriend's dog 15 months ago by kicking it.
Buffalo City Judge Debra L. Givens ordered Shevins, 29, to serve the brief jail term on his Feb. 17 plea to a reduced charge of attempted aggravated animal cruelty for the death of the 5-year-old pug Dylan. Shevins admitted kicking the dog after it urinated in its owner's Claremont Avenue flat Feb. 15, 2010.
Shevins, of West Ferry Street, had been charged with a felony count of aggravated animal cruelty after an SPCA investigation. SPCA Officer Lindsey Styborski, who came to court for the sentencing, said the dog died due to what she called "a vicious stomp" inflicted by Shevins.
Commenting after the court session, Styborski said an SPCA investigation established that the dog feared Shevins and died after suffering seven broken ribs after Shevins stomped on its back.
"No time in jail is a walk in the park, but there will be no justice for this dog," Styborski said.
Shevins could have received a one-year local jail term or three years on probation and a fine of up to $1,000 on his misdemeanor plea.
Shevins, who came to court with his parents and his girlfriend, did not speak during the brief sentencing and declined comment afterward.
Defense attorney Thomas J. Eoannou said he agreed with the judge's comment that the incident seemed an "aberration" in Shevins' behavior. Prosecutor Rachel E. Pilkington said the plea offer came because of Shevins' otherwise clean record.
The judge ordered Shevins to spend five days in Erie County Correctional Facility in Alden, but court officials said that with time off for good behavior, he will only be jailed from Friday evening until sometime Sunday.
The judge spared Shevins further punishment, granting him a conditional discharge after his jail term and his mental assessment. She noted she had received letters from persons who said they continue to trust Shevins -- who used to work in New York City with disabled persons -- with their pets. References |
