Two Rabbits Shot to Death Manchester, ME (US) Incident Date: Tuesday, Dec 9, 1997 County: Kennebec Local Map: available Disposition: Convicted Abuser/Suspect: Joshua Black

Case ID: 2274 Classification: Shooting Animal: rabbit (pet) View more cases in ME (US) Login to Watch this Case

On December 9, 1997, Joshua Black was allegedly seen walking around the neighborhood, carrying a firearm.  Shots were fired near the back of a neighbors home, near hutches where she kept her two rabbits.  When the neighbor went to feed her rabbits that night, she found they were missing.  After searching for two days, she found the bodies of both rabbits.  Autopsies found that the rabbits had died from gun shot wounds.  In addition, the eyes of the male rabbit had been punctured, and were missing.

On May 20, 1998, Joshua Black was arraigned on the chages of cruelty of animals and discharging a firearm near a dwelling.  The case went to trial on January 8, 1999 and Black was convicted on both counts.  On January 22, Black appealed the judgement to the Superior Court.  The Superior Court held that there was insufficient evidence to sustain a conviction on both charges.  The Superior Court vacated the judgements of convition.

On December 12, 2000, he state appealed the charge of cruelty to animals to the Supreme Judicial Court, who unamiously ruled that the evidence was sufficient and that the convition will stand.

Black was sentenced to a 30-day jail sentence, with all but three days suspended, along with a year's probation and a psychological evaluation.  Black must also pay $344.00 to the owner of the rabbits for restitution.  Black was also barred from owning or using a firearm for one year.

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References

	Associated Press
	Maine Supreme Judicial Court, Docket: Ken-00-271, State vs. Joshua Black

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