Brothers hog-tie, burn puppy to death for fun

Veterinarians' Action ^ | 9/11/06

[pabianice]

Seeking Felony Indictment for Puppy’s Torturous Death

Target: Paul Howard, DA, Fulton County District Attorney

Joshua Molder, age 17, and brother Justin have been accused of Aggravated Cruelty to an animal and two other charges, and are currently jailed without bond. This petition, however, is focused on the Aggravated Cruelty charge.

ATLANTA -- Two Atlanta brothers are in custody at the Fulton County jail charged with the torture death of a five-month old puppy and trashing a local apartment complex. Seventeen-year old Joshua Molder and 18-year old Justin Molder are being held without bond. The Molder brothers stand accused of covering a puppy with paint, hog tying it, trying to set it on fire and when that didn't work, baking the puppy to death in an oven. Inez Marshal is president of the community association at the Englewood Manor Apartments in southeast Atlanta where Joshua and Justin Molder lived. She was called to the rec center the night the brothers were arrested for breaking into the newly remodeled building and trashing it. "They just totally demolished the community center," said Marshal. She said she'll never forget finding the puppy the boys stand accused of torturing and killing. "He was still in the oven; he was tied," said Marshal. "All four feet were tied together, his mouth was duct taped and he was dipped in beige paint," she added. "Not only did they not have an explanation, apparently they went out and bragged about this to other young people in the community, brought them back and showed them their work," said District Attorney Paul Howard. The Moulder brothers are charged with burglary, criminal damage to property and aggravated cruelty to animals.

We ask that the DA of Fulton County, Paul Howard or the attorney assigned to this case, aggressively seek indictment of a felony for this heinous criminal act based on the Anti-Cruelty Statutes of Georgia:

16-12-4. Cruelty to animals c) A person commits the offense of aggravated cruelty to animals when he or she knowingly and maliciously causes death or physical harm to an animal by rendering a part of such animal's body useless or by seriously disfiguring such animal. A person convicted of the offense of aggravated cruelty to animals shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years, a fine not to exceed $15,000.00, or both, provided that any person who is convicted of a second or subsequent violation of this subsection shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years, a fine not to exceed the amount provided by Code Section 17-10-8, or both.

[Salamander]

This, from your own home page;

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Beware

Beware your thoughts, they become your words

Beware your words, they become your actions

Beware your actions, they become your habits

Beware your habits, they become your character

Beware your character, it becomes your destiny

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Oh?

Really?

That would seem to indicate that you believe the precedents a person sets for themselves inevitably become their fate.

In light of the topic at hand, that ~is~ ironic.

[From many - one.]

I am also against the death penalty for animal torturers.

But I recognize that we need to keep people who do this off the street. They can and will progress to harming people.

Would you agree to a locked ward psychiatric facility, for life or until a true medical cure is found? (not a "recovery" since these people are pretty good at faking that)?

The reason I'm not suggesting jail is that the penalties for animal cruelty are relativedly short terms and psychopaths don't change, whenever we let them out, they'll start again.

My first choice would actually be a version of the "Coventry" described by Robert Heinlein in his story by that name.

[Salamander]

I'm gonna have to get that book....:)

[Smittie]

I think a light jail sentence combined with hundreds of hours of service(in dog shelter, etc) should do it.

Unfortunately too many judges think this way even though it has been proven wrong over & over. They're not going to change their undisciplined lifestyle of 17+ years just because they get a few weeks or months in jail with their other buddies.

The only way they could ever change is if they turned to Jesus, which if they haven't done by now, by their age, is highly unlikely.

[EnquiringMind]

"The act is tying something up and burning it. Am I gonna get the same punishment for doing that to plants (wood fire) or some newspapers"?

If you believe the two acts are equal, then YES, you should receive the same punishment.

Nice "character".

[MamaB]

I read a lot. In most murder cases, the killers started by killing animals. Put them in jail before they kill a child or someone else.

[Salamander]

"It's like a fever pointing to an infection....the mark of something seriously wrong."

Best post of the thread nominee....

[Salamander]

But many here seem to prefer a "wait and see" attitude.

Okay.
Fine.
When they kill some kid or woman, *then* we'll execute them?

Who made that statement "When you see a rattlesnake poised to strike, you should not wait to kill it until after it has bitten you".

[that's paraphrased to the best of my recollection, of course, but that was the gist of it]

[Salamander]

Something profound I read a very long time ago which has directed my overall ideology ever since;

"You may kill in jest but the beast dies in earnest."

[B-Chan]

Cruelty against animals is not illegal due to the extension of any rights to the animal. It is illegal because a person capable of cruelty toward an animal is equally capable of cruelty toward a human being. Therefore, the arrest and (if convicted) punishment of those who are cruel to animals is an act of community self-defense -- the elimination of a known threat to the peace of the community and the lives of its citizens.

Cruelty against animals is immoral because animals are living creatures created by God, and partake (in various ways) in His sanctity. God ordains certain relationships between men and animals (e.g. food, hides, milk, pets, etc.) and prohibits cruelty towards them as part of the natural law; acts which exhibit a disordered relationship to animals (e.g. cruelty, bestiality, etc.) on the part of human beings are evidence of a disordered relationship to God, are violations of the natural law, and are thus sinful.

The sanctity of life -- all life -- extends even to plants and microorganisms. Deliberately burning down a forest or poisoning a healthy tree are examples of disordered actions towards plants; using bacteria as a weapon of war represents a disordered relationship between man and bacteria. In fact, the misuse of any part of the natural world -- the deliberate and unrestrained pollution of the environment, the use of viruses for human genetic engineering, and other disordered actions taken toward God's good creation are examples of sin.

Finally, as Christians we are called to follow the example of Christ. Our Lord was born among farm animals, used fish for food and birds as living demonstrations of His divine power, and rode upon a donkey into Jerusalem, yet nowhere is it recorded that He exhibited any cruelty or callousness towards animals. Instead, He presents Himself to us as a gentle shepherd. Dare we ignore His example?

[New Girl]

excellent post

[greenthumbedislndr]

I agree that animals and humans or definitelly NOT on the same level, but what these idiots have done is beyond disgusting. I am NOT an animal rights pothead, and I have killed animals before, but if I have to do it, I will do it in a way that will inflict the least possible amount of pain and make it quick. They should get very serious punishment, but death is not right because that would put a human life at the same level with animal life, but maybe giving them 3rd degree burns over 30% of their bodies so they could feel that pain for a few weeks might teach them a lesson. I'm tempted to say that amputating their hands might keep them from ever harming another animal or human in that way but I'm not sure that would be right. You might say I'm cruel? maybe so, but what they did was extremely cruel.
By the way I did crazy things to frogs when I was a kid (and I mean under 10) but when my mom found out, her method of persuading me to never ever do that stuff again worked though it was really painful.

[Frwy]

An eye for an eye....

[Centurion2000]

That would seem to indicate that you believe the precedents a person sets for themselves inevitably become their fate.

It's warning, not a prediction. What the hell is wrong with you people??? Death penalty for killing a DOG????

The Taliban used to suggest some pretty extreme punishments for silly crimes too.

Does these guys deserve jail time? Hell yes, but death? Hell no.

This is AMERICA, where people have rights and are supposed to have more rights than animals... this is NOT PETA land.

[Centurion2000]

The act was extreme cruelty.

It was an animal. What they did was wrong, make no mistake and they need to pay for it, but not with their lives like some PETA-useful-idiots are suggesting.

People in this country have rights, which some people here seem to have forgotten.

[RobRoy]

I assume they are in custody for trashing an apartment complex. It may be wishful thinking. I can find nothing in the constitution of our country nor my state that talks about the rights and dignity of animals. I am shocked that anyone would think they are the governments business, beyond protecting them as property of a human, much like you would a car or a shovel.

[RobRoy]

>>When they get out of jail,watch for them to do it to people.<<

If they are Peta members and really do believe people and animals are equal, I think you are right.

[RobRoy]

>>Arrest their parents also since one is 17. The parents are to blame for such terrible kids.<<

If you really believe that, it terrifies me that you may actually vote.

For such a wildly emotional and poorly thought out remark, I can only assume you are a woman.

[RobRoy]

>>Today, a defenseless animal. Tomorrow, your children. Time to do something about it now.<<

I shot and killed a robin with a bb gun in 1966. So far, nothing more though. I don't even hunt or fish.

But I could snap at any moment so you'd better keep your kids away from Seattle.

Oh, and I eat animals. Just another reason for you to be afraid - be very afraid!

[RunningWolf]

These kids have some very serious problems. What they did to the puppy they can also do to people later.

Hopefully they will get the help they need to take a hard look at whatever forces brought them to such a horrible act by their own volition.