CONVICTED: Was justice served?
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Case #2239 Rating: 5.0 out of 5
Puppy's leg broken in fit of anger
Troy, NY (US)Incident Date: Saturday, Sep 30, 2000
County: Rensselaer
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Kelly Michael Knowles
A graduate student who pleaded guilty to abusing his puppy will be the first person to serve a jail sentence under a new state law.
Kelly Knowles, 24, was sentenced under the so-called "Buster's Law" to six months in jail, a fine of $2,500 and 120 hours of community service at the Hudson Mohawk Humane Society.
"I sincerely regret what I did, and I hope I will be able to make it right," Knowles said at the sentencing in a Rensselaer County courtroom.
Knowles, a nuclear engineering student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, in a fit of anger broke the leg of his puppy, an 8-month-old basset-terrier mix named Rocky.
He pleaded guilty to animal in Sept 2000 and became the first person to serve jail time for animal abuse under the state's newly enacted Buster's Law. The law, named after an abused cat, makes animal abuse a felony.
"Justice was served for Rocky today," said Rensselaer County District Attorney Ken Bruno. "Rocky was helpless and could do nothing as he was beaten, and it's high time we start holding people accountable for abusing helpless animals."
Rocky was treated for his injuries and was adopted by another family. References- APBNews.Com - Oct 13, 2000 - "Puppy Abuser Gets Six Months"
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