Posted on 12/08/2004 12:45:36 PM PST by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
SKOWHEGAN -- A 26-year-old Fairfield man was sentenced to 18 months behind bars Tuesday for beating a 4-month-old wolf-hybrid puppy to death with his fists.
James Mayhew pleaded guilty to aggravated animal cruelty in Somerset County Superior Court. Superior Court Chief Justice Nancy Mills sentenced Mayhew to five years in prison with all but 18 months suspended. Mayhew will be on probation for four years after he is released.
Kennebec and Somerset County District Attorney Evert N. Fowle said Tuesday afternoon that his office treats animal cruelty cases seriously because studies show a link between abuse of animals and violence against humans.
"People who would abuse or torture innocent animals are people who would do the same (to humans) under the right circumstances," Fowle said.
It was the second time in less than a week that a prison sentence was handed down for the relatively rare felony charge of aggravated animal cruelty in Fowle's jurisdiction.
In Augusta last week, Superior Court Justice Joseph Jabar sentenced a Randolph man to four years behind bars for running over and killing his girlfriend's pregnant cat.
Jabar said the act amounted to domestic abuse because it was an attempt to control his girlfriend. One witness described the man "howling and laughing," before killing the cat.
In the Mayhew case, Fowle said there was no link to domestic violence. The Fairfield man was apparently upset because the puppy urinated in his apartment.
"He beat the dog to death because it urinated inside his residence, but the dog urinated because it was scared to death of him because of past abusive treatment," Fowle said.
Police said the puppy was beaten over a period of two months and died on July 31.
An autopsy concluded the puppy had a broken rib, a severely bruised lung and bruised muscles around the head and ears.
Police said at the time of Mayhew's arrest, a veterinarian who performed the autopsy concluded the puppy either bled to death or suffocated on its own blood.
Mayhew had no other pets or animals at his Mountain Avenue home. He apparently had seen the dog advertised for sale and bought it at eight or six weeks old.
Of course, we cannot hate both abortion and animal cruelty, right?
neither do I but I also am not someone that would do something like this... these are not laws to help us live our lives, but laws to punish those who choose not to live in the bounds of normal society.
oldblackjoe wrote:
This has absolutely nothing to do with abortion, Einsteins.
Why not give them capital punishment now since they "will inevitably treat a human being like this gieven a motive and the opportunity?"
Correct. Sophistocated thinkers understand the difference.
Sophisticated thinkers also understand the difference between an animal and an inanimate object.
Those who cannot are really not intelligent enough to debate.
My argument is the only rational answer.
A little megalomania going on here? Do you hear organ music when you type?
And that is called "murder" because you'd be killing a person.
That is much worse than the death of an animal from any cause. And society (and God) will hold you accountable for that.
Because we believe differently. That is why we are having a logical discussion of why we have come to our beliefs, which are very, VERY different from yours.
Welcome to true conservatism sweetie pie.
The Bible also says you can stone disobedient children and enslave people. Which can we do to you?
This is not even a remotely coherent "argument," on your part, in defense of a lessened sentence for the sociopath in question. (The only genuine "point," it advances, however inadvertently, is the pressing need to increase prison sentences for robbers and rapists; a premise with which none here have, or would, argue,)
It's a sick sick sick world that criminalizes puppy killing and legalizes baby killing.
False (and intellectually specious) "either/or" straw man, already long since discredited and set aflame, earlier in this thread. Go back and re-read, please.
Why do you keep holding onto this statement? Who in this discussion has given animals "people-like status"? What the hell is "people-like status" anyways. Does that apply to computers, plants, our favorite shirt? What folks here are trying to tell you (though you can't seem to see it through your vegetarian fearing eyes) is we love our pets and can see the difference between a pet and a pest/problem. Anyone who would kill their pet is just as dangerous to other members of society as they are to their own pets. If you kill something you supposedly love for "fun" or out of frustration how should the rest of us in society feel when you don't even know us. It will take even less effort for you to kill us then the dog since you have zero emotional attachment to us. ScottM1968 I think you need to slow down a little and review your stance. You might want to check and make sure your prescription is current as well. Good Luck.
Both animals are property.
Sorry your quote does not reference animals at all. It's a reference to slavery which is not immoral in the sight of God. The Bible is NOT an egalitarian political tract. Speaking of which, George W.Bush should be roundly chastised by Christian conservatives for his "God wants people to be free" heresy.
he he he! great one!
YOU VIL COMPLY! YOU VIL BE ASSIMLIATED! ;)
Well stated.
Boy, I really hope that you aren't implying that:
1) I cannot differentiate between a human and an animal. If so, perhaps you should read my other posts on this thread.
or
2) That because I don't agree with your views, that that means that I am stupid, and unworthy of debate. If you don't have differing views, you don't have a debate, you've got a mutual admiration society.
What's your home mailing address, please? I want to make certain you receive this itemized bill for my new monitor screen and keyboard. :)
No no no no no no......I was agreeing with you.
Re-read my post. :0)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.