Crime Date: 07/16/2002
Case Status: Dismissed
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| Accused: | Charles Benoit |
Charlies C. Benoit 24, has been charged in Clay County Circuit Court with one count of animal abuse for allegedly burning a 7 week old kitten on a barbecue grill, as up to 10 to 12 people stood by and watch. He was arrested and held at the county jail on $10,000 bond and faces up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine
"They kept saying, `Meow, meow,' and they were poking at it with a stick," said Sherry Scott, who burned her hand grabbing the kitten.
Scott said that on Friday night, she saw 10 or 12 people at the barbecue grill in the courtyard of the apartment complex where she lives. Scott said she asked what they were cooking, and they said it was a cat. She said the group taunted her, daring her to rescue the cat.
She said the group scattered when she threatened to call police. She said she pulled the kitten from where it had been shoved into the coals at the back of the grill. Its tail, whiskers, fur, eyes and throat were scorched.
"I called him Lucky because I thought I got him out of there just in time," she said.
Scott said she and other residents stayed up Friday night trying to nurse the kitten with an eye dropper of milk. But animal control officers decided that because of its respiratory injuries and inability to swallow food, it had to be destroyed.
Jim Roberts, spokesman for the Clay County prosecutor's office, said he does not expect anyone else to be charged, because no witnesses could identify the others.
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Posted: Jan 19, 2003 - 9:56 AM |
Case Dismissed in Sept 2002. Benoit had pleaded innocent to the felony charge. Clay County Prosecutor Don Norris said a witness on Friday was unable to recall key aspects of the case during a deposition session. |