Attorneys/Judges
| Prosecutor(s): | J. Dee Brooks | | Defense(s): | Kenneth W. Malkin | | Judge(s): | Timothy J. Kelly, Joseph K. Sheeran |
CONVICTED: Was justice served?
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Case #18352 Rating: 1.0 out of 5
2-pound dog stomped to death
Bay City, MI (US)Incident Date: Saturday, Jul 23, 2011
County: Bay
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Jeremy Kenneth Haire
Case Updates: 4 update(s) available
A Bangor Township man could get 15 years in prison for reportedly stomping his fiancée's dog to death.
Bay County District Judge Timothy J. Kelly on Monday arraigned Jeremy K. Haire, 29, on felony counts of torturing or killing an animal and interfering with an electronic communications device and a misdemeanor count of domestic violence. Though the charge of killing an animal is normally punishable by up to four years imprisonment, Haire's potential penalty is increased to 15 years due to him having several prior felony convictions.
Saturday night, Kayla Stepanski, 21, walked into Bay Regional Medical Center with her dead black and gray Yorkshire terrier, Missy. She told a Bay City Police officer there that she and her fiancé, Haire, had been to a golf outing earlier that day and that Haire had consumed quite a bit of alcohol. On returning to their home, Haire reportedly began punching and shoving Stepanski, she said.
When Stepanski went to call 911, Haire yanked the phone cord from the wall, Stepanski told the officer. She called to Missy, picked her up and was attempting to leave when Haire reportedly pushed her and knocked her over a baby gate. Stepanski dropped her 2-pound dog, at which point Haire allegedly stomped on the animal and yelled, "Now your dog is dead!" according to police reports in court records.
Stepanski picked up her lifeless dog, ran outside and got in her car.
Stepanski told police Haire suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and has not been taking his medication. The interviewing officer noted Stepanski bore a fresh bruise on her right cheek.
While the officer was speaking with Stepanski, Bay County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to Stepanski and Haire's home in the 3600 block of Kawkawlin River Drive. A neighbor had apparently called 911 claiming to have heard a woman yelling for help, court records show.
The deputies found Haire walking westbound on Kawkawlin River Drive, smelling heavily of intoxicants. Haire told them Stepanski was the aggressor and that she ripped the phone cord from the wall, court records show.
Deputies entered the residence and noted a flat-screen TV and coffee table were overturned and broken. Haire claimed Stepanski caused the damage, then began crying and kicked a tree, court records show.
Deputies arrested Haire without incident. While sitting in a deputy's car, he reportedly said, "When I get out of jail, she's done."
Haire denied making the comment at his arraignment.
Haire has a criminal history going to back to his juvenile years, Kelly said. He has been adjudicated or convicted on charges including armed robbery, unlawfully driving away an automobile, and carrying a concealed weapon, Kelly said.
At the time of his arrest, Haire was on probation in Bay County Circuit Court on a charge of assault with intent to commit second-degree criminal sexual conduct. He pleaded guilty to the charge in 2010 and must register as a sex offender until 2035.
Haire was also free on bond in District Court on charges of failure to register as a sex offender and malicious destruction of a building.
Kelly set Haire's bond at $100,000 cash-surety.
Haire is scheduled to appear for a preliminary examination at 3 p.m. on Aug. 2.
Case UpdatesHis wrists shackled, Jeremy K. Haire choked on his words as he apologized for stomping his fiancée's 2-pound puppy to death.
"I feel really bad for all this," said Haire Monday as he waited for Bay County Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran to tell him how much time he'd be spending in prison. "I could sit here and blame all this on alcohol, on PTSD, but it really just comes down to me."
The 29-year-old Haire in September pleaded no contest to single counts of torturing or killing an animal, domestic violence and violation of probation. The charge of killing an animal is a felony usually punishable by up to four years in prison, but because Haire is a habitual offender and was on probation for assault with intent to commit second-degree criminal sexual conduct at the time of his crime, the penalty is doubled to eight years.
The judge ended up sentencing Haire to 66 months to 10 years in prison, deviating from the guidelines that recommended 19 to 57 months.
"This was a property crime, but (the report) doesn't take into account that the property was a living thing �" a puppy that was killed without reason," the judge said.
Haire on July 23 argued with fiancée Kayla Stepanski at their home on Kawkawlin River Drive. Reportedly in a drunken rage, Haire began punching and shoving Stepanski. When she picked up her Yorkshire terrier and attempted to leave, Haire pushed her again, causing her to drop the dog.
Haire then stomped on the animal, reportedly shouting, "Now your dog is dead!"
Defense attorney Kenneth W. Malkin said Haire suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, incurred while serving time in the U.S. military. He added that his client has no memory of killing the dog.
"The help I needed was there," Haire told Sheeran. "Kayla pushed me to it, but instead I fought with her about it. I tried drinking it away.
"I deserve this," he continued. "I want to get help. It's something I'll need for the rest of my life. I don't ever want to feel this pain again. It hurts too much.
Bay County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Nancy E. Borushko said Haire has a history of violence going back to 1995, predating his time in the military.
"He has absolutely no respect for women whatsoever," she said. "Killing the dog was quintessential cruel behavior. He knew how (Stepanski) felt about the dog and he wanted to hurt her as much as he could.
"I don't think drinking is the cause of it," she continued. "There is something inherently flawed in him."
Despite handing down the sentence, Sheeran remained encouraging to Haire.
"All people are inherently good as well," he said. "You have the time to correct the flaws you have and find the part in you that is inherently good." | Source: mlive.com - Nov 14, 2011
Update posted on Nov 14, 2011 - 7:58PM |
Rather than risk letting a jury decide his fate, a Bangor Township man charged with stomping his fianceé's dog to death has opted to accept a plea deal.
Jeremy K. Haire, 29, appeared before Bay County Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran this morning and pleaded no contest to single counts of torturing or killing an animal, domestic violence and violation of probation. Prosecutors did not dismiss any additional charges.
A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt but is treated as such for purposes of sentencing.
The animal killing charge is a four-year felony, but because Haire was charged as a habitual offender, his potential prison sentence is doubled to eight years.
Haire's previous convictions include assault with intent to commit second-degree criminal sexual conduct in 2010 and breaking and entering a vehicle in 1999. He must register as a sex offender until 2035.
Sheeran is to sentence Haire at 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 14. | Source: mlive.com - Sep15, 2011
Update posted on Nov 7, 2011 - 5:00PM |
Jeremy K. Haire wept as his former fiancée detailed the events that unfolded the day the 29-year-old Bangor Township man allegedly stomped the couple's 2-pound Yorkshire terrier to death.
Kayla M. Stepanski was the lone witness to testify in a preliminary hearing for Haire today.
Upon entering the courtroom, Haire made an obscene gesture to members of the media.
Bay County District Judge Timothy J. Kelly concluded the hearing by finding probable cause for Haire to proceed to Circuit Court where Haire will have to enter a plea or face a jury on charges of torturing or killing an animal and domestic violence.
Kelly also granted a motion by Assistant Prosecutor J. Dee Brooks to dismiss one count of interfering with an electronic communication device.
Brooks indicated he is likely to seek an additional charge of malicious destruction of personal property as the case proceeds.
Stepanski, 21, told the court Haire suffers from post traumatic stress disorder and had not taken none of his anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medications the week prior to July 23.
"When he takes his meds, he smiles, he laughs, he's calm and we don't fight as much," said Stepanski. "When he's off his meds, he hates his life, he complains all the time and he yells."
The morning of the alleged attack on Stepanski and her dog, Missy, Haire allegedly consumed several beers during a golf outing and at Oasis Lake in Alger, Stepanski said.
"We started arguing at the beach," said Stepanski. "He told me to leave."
She said she did not want to abandon Haire so she stopped at a store and bought a 12-pack of beer "as a peace offering" and returned to the lake.
After the couple returned home, they argued about Haire lying on the bed in sandy swim trunks, Stepanski testified.
"I put the dog on him and said, 'Wake daddy up. He has to change his clothes'," said Stepanski.
As Haire continued to lie on the bed, Stepanski retrieved a clean pair of boxer shorts and attempted to remove Haire's sandy trunks.
Stepanski testified that Haire protested and she threw the boxer shorts at him, after which he sprang from the bed and began punching her in the head.
"I yelled for him to leave," she said. "He kept yelling, 'I hate you' and I kept yelling, 'get out, get out, get out,' over and over."
She said Haire backed her into a corner and struck her multiple times in the head, arms and face with his fist.
The fight moved into the living room, where Stepanski again ordered Haire out of the home, she said.
"He flipped the (glass-topped) coffee table," she said. "He smashed my laptop against the table, smashed the TV on the coffee table. There was broken glass all over the floor. I didn't want Missy to come in and walk on it or eat it, so I started calling her."
Stepanski testified that as she held the dog, Haire pushed her over a baby gate, causing her to drop the animal.
"He said, 'She's not dead. She's still quivering'," said Stepanski. "Then he stomped on her two times. I picked her up and ran out yelling for help."
Stepanski ultimately drove to Bay Regional Medical Center where doctors treated her for a bruised and swollen jaw, and security officers contacted police.
Haire remains jailed on $100,000 cash or surety bond as he awaits arraignment in Circuit Court. His next court date is pending. | Source: mlive.com - Aug 2, 2011
Update posted on Aug 2, 2011 - 7:32PM |
A local nonprofit organization is seeking aid from animal lovers to help prosecute a Bangor Township man charged with stomping a dog to death.
A necropsy �" a non-human equivalent to an autopsy �" is to be performed on the 2-pound Yorkshire terrier reportedly killed by Jeremy K. Haire, 29, Saturday night. Prosecutors allege a drunken Haire began assaulting his fiancée, then stomped her dog, Missy, as she attempted to leave.
Haire is charged with torturing or killing an animal, domestic violence and interfering with an electronic communications device. He could get 15 years in prison if convicted of the first charge, because of a string of previous felony convictions.
"The dog is going to have an autopsy performed," said Dee Bishop, president of the
Bishop said she was contacted by individuals at the
Kathy Allen, executive director of the Women's Center, could not comment on the specifics of the case. She said the effort to fund the necropsy is not sponsored by the center, but that it is more "individuals taking up a cause."
Bishop said that while her organization is contacted about once a week regarding pets being neglected, malicious slayings of pets is fairly rare.
"This is a very unusual case," Bishop said. "This is the first autopsy I know of that we've been asked to pay for.
"Any time there is neglect or harm to an animal, that gets referred to Mike Halstead at (Bay County) Animal Control, and he sends officers out to investigate," she added.
Halstead, supervisor of Animal Control, described the alleged Haire incident as "one of the worst cases I've seen in a long time."
He said it is rare for his office to handle complaints of outright sadism.
"More often than not, it's a neglect situation rather than cruel and inhumane," he said. "In all instances, we call upon the owner and take a look at the conditions under which the animal is being kept."
Common forms of neglect involve a pet being underfed or left exposed to the elements, Halstead said.
When an investigation is completed, Animal Control forwards its report to the Bay County prosecutor's office. It is then up to Prosecutor Kurt C. Asbury to issue a citation or authorize criminal charges against a pet owner, Halstead said.
In Bishop's experience, animals that are mistreated rarely are the lone focuses of abuse.
"I found that when children are abused and there is spousal abuse, a lot of times, animals are the first ones to be abused," she said. "I've seen children abuse animals, and usually the child has been abused and they take it out on the animal. Usually when animals are abused, it's because they are weaker targets.
"Anyone who does something like that," she continued, "there is something psychologically wrong."
Bishop is asking for donations to fund the necropsy. Checks can be mailed to the Humane Society of Bay County, PO Box 215, Bay City, MI 48707.
If the society exceeds the necessary $600, the surplus will go to fund outreach calls to help other injured animals, Bishop said.
Chief Assistant Prosecutor Nancy E. Borushko said her office did not order a postmortem examination of the dog. In a homicide case, the cost of an autopsy is typically paid by the Bay County Health Department.
"This community, I'm finding, has very big hearts when it comes to animals," Bishop said. | Source: mlive.com - Jul 29, 2011
Update posted on Aug 2, 2011 - 7:26PM |
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