Case Snapshot
Case ID: 8470
Classification: Shooting
Animal: dog (non pit-bull)
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Saturday, Apr 1, 2006

County: Pickaway

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Kenneth F. Cox, III

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Besides evaluating shelters, the Humane Society of the United States is very outspoken when it comes to animal cruelty or abuse, often testifying at criminal hearings. That will be the case June 5 when Dean Vickers, Ohio state program coordinator for HSUS, will testify at the trial of a Circleville man charged with animal cruelty.

Kenneth F. Cox III, allegedly confessed to shooting and killing two beagles last month. One of the dogs, Beauregard, was a Hurricane Katrina survivor, rescued from the devastated Gulf Coast region last year.

"This tragedy is but one of thousands of animal cruelty cases each year in which animals are tortured, burned, shot, hung, stabbed and even skinned alive at the hands of violent individuals," Vickers said. "The cruel irony of this case is that Beauregard had survived the horrors of Katrina, only to have his life stripped away in seconds by this senseless act."

In Ohio, perpetrators face a first-degree misdemeanor on a first offense of animal cruelty to a dog or cat or other companion animal and a felony of the fifth-degree for any subsequent act with a maximum fine of $2,500 and up to one year in jail. "Every state should have felony animal cruelty penalties," said Vickers. "Citizens need to be proactive with their elected officials to ensure strong laws exist to help protect animals, which benefits the entire community."


Case Updates

Monday, there was a pretrial hearing in the case against Kenneth F Cox III, the man accused of shooting the dogs.

He was charged with two counts of animal cruelty in Circleville Municipal Court. Cox admits to the shooting, but says he's not guilty of any crime.

It happened just off of the property of Louise Adkins and Tony Ellis. They're the dog's owners.

Beauregard and Millie went after some deer and they were found dead about a half mile from the couple's farm.

Cox's attorney says the shooting was self-defense.

Stephen Gussler says, The dogs had crippled one of the deer. The deer was having trouble getting over the fence. Mr. Cox said he tried to scare the dogs off, kicked the fence, tried to help the deer get across. The dogs started to come at him, growled. And that's when he shot them.

Ellis says, We hope that they can prove without any doubt he did this maliciously. He receives the maximum sentence allowed by law.

The maximum punishment, if Cox is convicted, is 90 days in jail and a $750 fine on each of the two counts.
Source: 10 News - June 5, 2006
Update posted on Jun 8, 2006 - 5:35PM 

References

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