Dogs neglected, one dies of heat exposure
Bristol, PA (US)Incident Date: Friday, May 26, 2006
County: Bucks
Disposition: Convicted
Defendants/Suspects:
» Daniel Heckman, III
» Jen LaPorte
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
A Bristol man, jailed last year for dragging and kicking a bull terrier puppy, has been charged again with animal abuse after a bulldog in his care died from apparent heat exposure. A police officer found three other dogs on his property without food, water or suitable shelter. The temperature was 92 degrees in Bristol on Memorial Day and flies were on the dead dog when Officer Charles Palmer visited 439 Washington St., the home of Daniel Heckman III and his girlfriend, Jen LaPorte.
Case UpdatesHeckman, and LaPorte, of Bristol, intend to plead guilty to animal cruelty charges when their case is brought before a Bucks County judge this fall, their lawyer confirmed Wednesday after the two waived their preliminary hearing in district court.
Daniel Heckman III was jailed for 45 days in 2005 for dragging and kicking a bull terrier puppy. Now, he and his girlfriend are facing a trial for leaving three dogs outside in the summer heat without adequate food, water or shelter, according to court records. One of the animals, a bulldog, died from apparent heat exposure, authorities said.
Heckman, 27, and his 21-year-old girlfriend, Jen LaPorte, Wednesday waived their preliminary hearing for possession of drugs and animal cruelty charges. Both are expected to plead guilty, according to county prosecutor Nathaniel Spang and their lawyer Stanton Kelton.
In exchange for their plea, the district attorney's office dropped charges that include possession of drug paraphernalia and disorderly conduct, Spang told District Judge Frank Peranteau. If convicted for animal cruelty, a summary offense, the two would face a maximum fine of $300 and 90 days in jail. The drug charge is a misdemeanor offense.
The temperature was 92 degrees on Memorial Day, May 29, in Bristol, and flies were on the dead dog when Bristol Officer Charles Palmer visited the home the couple shared in the 400 block of Washington Street.
On May 26, police and animal cruelty investigator Kathy Myron of the Bucks County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals left a notice for the couple. Myron's note said the couple hadn't cared for the bulldog, a 4-month-old Rottweiler puppy and a third dog called a Presa Canario. None of the dogs had food, water or adequate shelter, authorities said.
On Memorial Day, Bristol police and borough Animal Control Officer Bart Kraus found the dead bulldog but the other two dogs were still alive when they visited the home in response to a complaint about the dogs. The SPCA is presently caring for the two dogs.
According to police, they returned on May 30 with a search warrant and found a small amount of marijuana on a nightstand.
In February 2005, Heckman, a tattoo artist, was sentenced for dragging a 4-month-old bull terrier puppy in his care. Judge Alan Rubenstein convicted Heckman of cruelty to animals and disorderly conduct. The judge also ordered him to pay a $1,000 fine to the Bucks SPCA, plus $242 in vet bills. Court records show that he has paid the fines and fees. | Source: MSNBC - Sept 7, 2006
Update posted on Sep 9, 2006 - 3:59AM |
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