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Case #5414 Rating: 4.0 out of 5
Cats beaten, resulting in death of 2
Flemington, NJ (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, May 31, 2005
County: Hunterdon
Disposition: Convicted
Defendants/Suspects:
» Joseph Sigle
» Kelly Sigle - Dismissed
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
A Flemington couple were charged on Aug 18 with animal cruelty after torturing, maiming and mutilating five cats, three of which died as a result, Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne J. Forrest said.
Joseph Sigle, 25, and Kelly Sigle, 25, of Salem Court are accused of abusing five cats since January 2003, inflicting the animals with injuries such as broken ribs, a broken jaw, head trauma and a broken leg.
Two of the Sigles' cats died as a direct result of the injuries and one had to be put to sleep, Forrest said.
Forrest said that in June, the state Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was contacted by the Belle Mead Animal Hospital in Hillsborough about the cats' injuries.
An investigation, led by Officer Murray Rothblatt of the SPCA, showed the Sigles had brought their cats to both the Belle Mead Animal Hospital and Animerge in Raritan Borough for treatment of severe injuries.
Forrest said the Sigles' explanations for the causes of their cats' injuries did not match with the findings of a veterinarian, who said the injuries were the result of blunt force trauma. The veterinarian was working with the SPCA on the case.
The Sigles each were charged with third-degree animal cruelty for the abuse and eventual death of three domestic cats and fourth-degree animal cruelty for torment, torture, maiming or unnecessary mutilation of five domestic cats.
To send a polite letter to the prosecutor asking for vigorous prosecution in this case, as well as jail time, mandatory counseling and a ban on owning animals if the Sigles are convicted, write to:
Office of the Somerset County Prosecutor
Mr. Wayne J. Forrest
40 North Bridge Street
Somerville, N.J. 08876
Phone 908.575.3300
prosecutor@scpo.net
Case UpdatesA Raritan Township man pleaded guilty today to a charge of animal cruelty which led to the death of two of his cats, Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne J. Forrest said.
Joseph Sigle appeared today before the Superior Court Judge Robert B. Reed in Somerville and pleaded guilty on one count of fourth degree animal cruelty in exchange that he would be admitted to the Pretrial Intervention Program for two years, Forrest said. As part of the program, Sigle must undergo anger management counseling and pay a $500 fine.
During his plea, Sigle told the judge he became angry with three of his cats and injured them, causing two of them to die.
Sigle was arrested after an investigation by the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Belle Mead Animal Hospital in Hillsborough reported the animal abuse. The hospital had treated Sigle's cats and saw a pattern of abuse, Forrest said.
Sigle is prohibited from having any domesticated animals for a two-year period and must advise the state SPCA of the whereabouts of his two surviving cats and allow the SPCA to examine those animals to ensure their well-being.
As part of the plea agreement, the prosecutor's office dismissed a similar charge against his wife, Kelly Sigle, Forrest said. | Source: Courier News - Jan 19, 2007
Update posted on Jan 19, 2007 - 4:45PM |
The next hearing for a Flemington couple who pleaded not guilty in November to charges they abused their cats and rejected an offer from the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office to enter a program for first-time offenders has been moved to March 3.
Joseph and Kelly Sigle were scheduled to appear before Superior Court Judge Frank Gasiorowski yesterday morning with an opportunity to agree to the terms of the offer, which includes pleading guilty to the charges. But according to court records, the couple did not change their earlier plea.
The couple's attorney has said that his clients were not willing to plead guilty to the charges because the injuries to the animals were accidental and not intentional.
They each face a fourth-degree charge of animal cruelty after a veterinarian at the Belle Mead Animal Hospital in Montgomery noticed a pattern of unusual injuries in the couple's cats and contacted authorities. The Sigles' five cats have sustained broken ribs, a broken jaw, head trauma and a broken leg since January 2003, police said. Two of the cats died from their injuries and a third cat had to be euthanized.
Next month's hearing will be held in the Somerset County Courthouse, North Bridge Street. | Source: The Star Ledger - Jan 24, 2006
Update posted on Jan 24, 2006 - 12:23AM |
References« NJ State Animal Cruelty Map
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