Dog beaten, kicked to death
West Nyack, NY (US)Incident Date: Friday, Jun 3, 2005
County: Rockland
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Dennis Michael Morgan
Case Updates: 3 update(s) available
Dennis Michael Morgan, 40, was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony under the state agriculture and markets law.
Teddy, a 6-year-old, 20-pound Shetland sheepdog, had to be euthanized.
Veterinarians at the Valley Cottage Animal Hospital told police the injuries from the June 3 beating made Teddy's survival unlikely, according to a court document.
The dogs owner told police the beating began about 11:40 p.m. and the dog was punched, kicked and thrown down the stairs, the document said.
A neighbor whom police did not identify told police he heard the woman screaming, "Stop killing the dog, stop killing the dog," and went to her home to help.
The witness told police he saw a man jump up and down on the dog's side, pick him up from the hair on his back and throw him against the wall, kick him for about 30 seconds and throw him down the stairs, the document said.
The semiconscious dog was taken to the hospital and had a severe spinal-cord injury, severe bruising, internal contusions, multiple pelvic fractures, a ruptured bladder and internal bleeding, all injuries from blunt force trauma, the veterinarians told police.
Morgan entered a not-guilty plea last night in Orangetown Town Court. He was being held in the county jail with bail set at $500.
He was represented by attorney Hollis Griffin of Pearl River.
The prosecutor recommended $15,000 bail because of two prior convictions, misdemeanor driving while intoxicated and felony driving while intoxicated, and told Orangetown Justice Paul Phinney that Morgan had made two threatening phone calls to his girlfriend since the incident.
An order of protection was issued for the woman.
Morgan is due in court at 6 p.m. June 29.
Case UpdatesA 40-year-old West Nyack man was promised no more than six months in jail when he pleaded guilty yesterday to fatally beating a dog in Tappan, county District Attorney Michael Bongiorno said.
The county prosecutors recommended the maximum, a two-year sentence, for Dennis Morgan, who was convicted of aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony under the state's Agriculture and Markets Law.
Judge Kenneth Resnick capped the sentence at six months in county jail and five months' probation, Bongiorno said.
Morgan admitted in County Court that he had beaten his then-girlfriend's 23-pound Shetland sheepdog so severely the night of June 3 that the 6-year-old Teddy had to be euthanized in the early hours of June 4.
The beating occurred at a Dederer Street home in Tappan and was reported by a neighbor who witnessed the attack, a court document said.
The neighbor, whom police did not identify, told police he saw Morgan jump up and down on Teddy's side, pick up the dog from the hair on its back, throw the dog against a hall wall and then kick the dog in the hall for 30 seconds before throwing him down a flight of stairs, according to the document.
Valley Cottage Animal Hospital reported to police that the dog had a severe spinal cord injury, severe bruising, multiple pelvis fractures, a ruptured bladder and internal bleeding - all a result of blunt force trauma, according to the document.
"We're recommending two years, which is the maximum he faces," Bongiorno said. "The egregious conduct that led to the killing of the dog makes our recommendation appropriate in our view."
Sentencing is set for Jan. 10.
To send a polite letter to Judge Resnick, asking for the full two year sentence, write to:
The Honorable Judge Kenneth Resnick
Rockland County Courthouse
1 South Main Street, Suite 100
New City, New York 10956-3549
Telephone (845) 638-5340
FAX (845) 638-5647 | Source: The Journal News - Aug 31, 2005
Update posted on Aug 31, 2005 - 10:38AM |
Morgan did not show up at Orangetown Justice Court last night. Dennis Michael Morgan, 40, of West Nyack was to be arraigned on two misdemeanor charges, unrelated to the felony animal cruelty charge he is facing.
Morgan's lawyer, Hollis Griffin of Pearl River, told Orangetown Justice Paul B. Phinney III that Morgan was in the hospital.
Phinney told those in the courtroom that a county grand jury heard the case against Morgan and indicted him June 30 on the charge of aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony under the state agriculture and markets law.
Morgan's appearance in County Court has not been scheduled yet.
Griffin pleaded not guilty on Morgan's behalf last night to second-degree criminal contempt and second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Morgan is scheduled to appear for those charges at 6 p.m. on Aug. 31. Phinney ordered Morgan to the court at 9:30 a.m. Monday with an official hospital report of the treatment he received. | Source: The Journal News - July 7, 2005
Update posted on Jul 7, 2005 - 11:25AM |
Morgan will return next week because his lawyer, Hollis Griffin of Pearl River, was almost two hours late. Griffin arrived just before 8 p.m. and had no comment.
Orangetown Justice Paul B. Phinney III told Morgan at 7:45 p.m. the case could not proceed without Griffin present and rescheduled the matter to 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Phinney said that when Morgan appears next week, he also will be arraigned on two unrelated misdemeanor charges - second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and second-degree criminal contempt.
Police would not release records about the charges last night.
Morgan, 40, of West Nyack, was charged June 8 with aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony under the state agriculture and markets law.
He is accused of beating his then girlfriend's dog Teddy so severely the night of June 3 that the 20-pound Shetland sheepdog had to be euthanized in the early hours of June 4.
Valley Cottage Animal Hospital informed police that 6-year-old Teddy suffered from a severe spinal cord injury, severe bruising, multiple fractures to the pelvis, a ruptured bladder and internal bleeding - all a result of blunt force trauma, according to a court document.
The alleged beating occurred at a Dederer Street home in Tappan and was reported by a neighbor who witnessed the attack, according to the document.
The neighbor, whom police did not identify, told police he saw a man jump up and down on the dog's side, pick up the dog from the hair on its back and throw the dog against a hallway wall and then kick the dog in the hallway for 30 seconds before throwing the dog down a flight of stairs, according to the document.
Morgan arrived at Orangetown Justice Court just before 6 p.m. yesterday. He was accompanied by two women.
Several animal activists approached him and yelled as he walked into the courtroom. One of the women with Morgan pushed the activists away with her umbrella.
About 15 of the protesters sat in the courtroom for his appearance and followed him outside afterward.
Morgan hid his face with a black briefcase and ran out of the building to his car in the parking lot as activists again shouted at him. He made no comment. | Source: Journal News - June 30, 3005
Update posted on Jun 30, 2005 - 10:43AM |
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