Jeffrey R. Babilya, 43, a allegedly stole his neighbor's dog, hid the animal in the woods and beat it with a shovel because its barking was getting on his nerves.
Babilya, 43, was arrested and charged with animal cruelty and receiving stolen property. He was accused of keeping the dog -- a springer spaniel named Bastion -- in a wooded section of Howell.
The dog, which suffered head wounds and dehydration, had been reported missing August 20, 2004.
Babilya admitted to police that he took the dog, tied it up and beat it because he wanted it to stop barking.
Police said several witnesses saw the dog being beaten and confronted Babilya, who fled. He later was summoned to the police department by authorities.
When it was found, the dog was bleeding from its nose and head, had duct tape wrapped around its head and a steel cable tangled in its ears, authorities said.
The dog is expected to recover, said Pat Malone, general manager of Associated Humane Societies, where the animal was first taken.
Babilya was held in the Monmouth County Jail on $3,500 bail.
Judge's Contact Information:
The Honorable Patricia Del Bueno Cleary
Superior Court Judge of Monmouth County
71 Monument St., P.O. Box 1266
Freehold, NJ 07728-1266
732-677-4358 (fax) Case Updates| Posted on May 7, 2005 - 6:17PM | Jeffrey R. Babilya who admitted stealing and later beating a neighbor's dog to silence its barking was sentenced to a year of probation.
In Superior Court in Monmouth County on Friday, Jeffrey R. Babilya of Lakewood apologized to the 8-year-old Brittany spaniel's owner, John Dulany.
Babilya, 44, pleaded guilty to animal cruelty, theft and receiving stolen property. The stolen property charge was later dropped.
Despite a request by the prosecution for jail time, Judge Patricia Del Bueno Cleary declined, noting Babilya was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the Aug. 20, 2004, incident and that he has since completed a substance-abuse program.
Babilya had faced up to 8 1/2 years in prison.
Cleary ordered probation and directed Babilya to pay Dulany about $700 in restitution and perform a month of community service.
Babilya acknowledged he took the dog, named Bastion, because its barking annoyed him. He kept the dog tied up for four days in woods near his workplace and beat it with a shovel on the fourth day.
A woman who lived nearby confronted Babilya after hearing the dog's yelps.
Authorities said the spaniel was found bleeding from its nose and head, had duct tape wrapped around its head and a steel cable tangled in its ears. | | Source: WNBC - May 7, 2005 |
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