Police in Georgia were recently called about a man allegedly dragging a dog behind his truck. Investigators located the individual deemed responsible and promptly took him into custody. He is now facing an animal cruelty charge, which is a felony level offense.
According to reports, the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office was contacted the afternoon of Monday, Feb. 5, by a few concerned citizens who say they saw a truck traveling on Settingdown Road, dragging a dog behind it. Witnesses gave the license plate number of the truck to authorities who, a short time later, found the vehicle and its owner near Martin Road. Deputies claim to have found blood in the truck bed. The condition of the animal was not reported.
The truck owner — a 70-year-old male — claims to have found the dog hurt in the woods. Deputies placed him under arrest and transported him to the local detention center. As of the latest report, bond has not been set in his case.
In the state of Georgia, felony level offenses can carry some pretty stiff penalties if convictions are achieved — such as incarceration and hefty fines. At 70 years old, such penalties could drastically alter the life of the accused. Fighting an animal cruelty charge may not prove to be an easy feat, but it does not mean that there is no hope for this gentleman. With the assistance of an experienced criminal defense attorney, the accused can fight the accusations posed against him and either seek a case dismissal or a reduction in charges.
Source: forsythnews.com, “Forsyth County man arrested for animal cruelty“, Alexander Popp, Feb. 5, 2018