CHRISTOPHER MAXWELL sentenced to prison for burning a dog who he had starved to death

- New York, USA -

On Thursday, November 20, 2025, Albany County Judge William Little sentenced 34-year-old CHRISTOPHER MAXWELL (pictured), to sixteen (16) months to four (4) years in state prison for starving a dog and then setting the furvictim on fire.

The furvictim was a 1-year-old female Pitbull named Dora.

MAXWELL and his girlfriend, 33-year-old LATISHA ELLIS (also pictured), went on vacation for nearly two weeks and left the dog in a crate without food and water inevitably resulting in Dora’s death by starvation.

On February 24, 2025, Albany Police were called to a parking lot near Fourth Avenue and Franklin Street after the discovery of the remains of a dog.

As part of an investigation, investigators reviewed footage from surveillance cameras which showed MAXWELL dragging a crate containing Dora’s lifeless body. MAXWELL then proceeded to pour lighter fluid on the crate and set it on fire.

MAXWELL was arrested and charged with six counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, overdriving, torturing, injuring and not feeding an animal, arson, criminal mischief with intent to damage property, and two counts of tampering with physical evidence.

ELLIS was taken into custody on March 19, 2025, after the Albany County Sheriff’s Office raided a home on Broad Street.

At the home, authorities found a 3-year-old male dog locked in a crate with inadequate food and water and living in unsanitary conditions.

On April 9, 2025, MAXWELL and ELLIS appeared in Albany County Court before Honorable William Little for their arraignment. The couple were then released under the supervision of probation and with an order prohibiting them from possessing any animals. Additionally, MAXWELL was ordered to wear an ankle monitor.

MAXWELL pleaded guilty to all of the charges on September 18, 2025.

On June 6, 2025, ELLIS pleaded guilty to felony aggravated cruelty to animals and on September 26, 2025, she was sentenced to serve five years of probation.

On Thursday, MAXWELL received sixteen months to four years on the tampering charges. He got one year each on the aggravated animal cruelty, arson, criminal mischief and time served on the failure to provide proper sustenance. All sentences are to run concurrently.

Both ELLIS and MAXWELL are banned from “owning” animals for fifty (50) years as part of the sentence.

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from information provided to Voice For Us by the Albany County District Attorney’s Office. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

Mugshots provided to Voice For Us by the Albany County District Attorney’s Office

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