Case Snapshot
Case ID: 2587
Classification: Shooting
Animal: dog (non pit-bull)
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Thursday, Jul 26, 2001

County: Hunterdon

Disposition: Civil Case

Person of Interest: Jayson Williams

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Former Nets star Jayson Williams has been charged with animal cruelty based on allegations raised during his recent manslaughter trial that he shot and killed his dog after losing a bet.

The cruelty charge, outlined in a summons mailed to Williams' lawyers last week, was released yesterday by the New Jersey State Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Jayson Williams, acquitted earlier this year of aggravated manslaughter, faces an animal cruelty complaint for allegedly killing his dog with a shotgun three years ago.

The New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals learned of the incident earlier this year when prosecutors trying Williams in the 2002 shooting death of his limousine driver tried unsuccessfully to introduce evidence about the dog.

Because the statute of limitations on criminal charges has expired, the SPCA filed civil charges, which carry a maximum fine of $250.

Former New Jersey Nets player Dwayne Schintzius told investigators he and Williams bet $100 that Schintzius could not drag Williams' Rottweiler out of his house. Schintzius said he won the bet and told Williams to pay up. An angry Williams went inside, returned with a shotgun and killed the dog, Schintzius stated.


Case Updates

local chapter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has been ordered to close because it did not prosecute former NBA star Jayson Williams over accusations he shot and killed his dog in anger over losing a bet.

New Jersey SPCA president Stuart Rhodes, who issued the order, said the Hunterdon County chapter of the SPCA accepted a $500 donation from Williams two weeks after he allegedly shot his Rottweiler at his mansion in Alexandria in August 2001.

A message seeking comment from Hunterdon SPCA executive director Tee Carlson was not immediately returned Monday. Carlson told The Star-Ledger of Newark that the order was being reviewed by the group's lawyer.

"I was looking for her to explain reasons why she didn't prosecute Jayson Williams," Rhodes said. "She should have at least entered the charges. But by doing nothing, she allowed him to walk. And then you accept a donation?"

Williams, 36, was acquitted in April of aggravated manslaughter but found guilty of covering up the fatal shooting of a hired driver at his mansion in February 2002. The jury deadlocked on a reckless manslaughter count; Williams is scheduled to be retried in January.

In New Jersey, as in some other states, the SPCA is vested with the legal power to investigate and prosecute animal cruelty charges. And in July, the state group charged Williams with animal cruelty in civil court. Allegations that he shot his Rottweiler had come to light during jury selection at trial.

The case was brought in civil court because the one-year statute of limitations for a criminal charge of animal cruelty had expired. The civil count carries a maximum fine of $250. A criminal charge of animal cruelty would have carried up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Three weeks after the incident, a stricter law went into effect that carries up to three years in jail.

According to court papers, former Nets player Dwayne Schintzius told investigators Williams bet him $100 that Schintzius could not drag Williams' Rottweiler, Zeus, out of his house. Schintzius said he won the bet and Williams killed Zeus with a shotgun.

The former teammate told investigators that Williams later pointed the gun at him and told him to clean up the dog's remains "or you're next."

Williams' attorneys have denied the charge. The trial judge barred the information from being heard by the jury in the manslaughter trial, ruling it was too inflammatory.

A hearing on the civil cruelty case has been delayed until after the remaining manslaughter charge is resolved.
Source: Associated Press - Oct 11, 2004
Update posted on Oct 20, 2004 - 12:00AM 
A municipal court judge decided last week that Jayson Williams should stand trial on an unresolved manslaughter charge before he faces a charge for allegedly gunning down his pet Rottweiler.

Matthew Stanton, a spokesman for the SPCA, said the society received word Friday that Judge Joseph S. Novak set aside the animal cruelty charge until after Williams' retrial on a charge of aggravated manslaughter.
Source: The Express-Times - Oct 5, 2004
Update posted on Oct 5, 2004 - 7:59AM 

References

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