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Writer's picturevoiceforus
Jul 34 min read

JAMES A. JACKSON sentenced to one year behind bars in an animal cruelty and dogfighting case

Updated: Jul 8

- New York, USA -

 

Update: July 8, 2024


The SPCA Serving Erie County kindly provided me with Wade's pictures (added below.)


I was also advised that the two other furvictims who were found alive fully recovered and were adopted.


~ Original story:


On Monday, July 1, 2024, Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi sentenced 24-year-old JAMES A. JACKSON (pictured) on animal cruelty charges that stemmed from an investigation  into dogfighting.

 

The Erie County District Attorney’s Office said in a press release that the investigation began on April 12, 2022, after the Cheektowaga Police Department received an anonymous tip regarding dogfighting at JACKSON’s home on Andrews Avenue in the Town of Cheektowaga.

 

On April 13, 2022, investigators with the SPCA Serving Erie County executed a search warrant at JACKSON’s home.

 

The search led to the discovery of two deceased dogs in the backyard, two live dogs in the basement, and one live dog on the first floor of the home.

Moreover, investigators recovered evidence common in dogfighting operations inside and outside of the home.

 

The SPCA removed the remains of the deceased furvictims as well as the live dogs.

 

The Erie County District Attorney’s Office tells me that the deceased dogs were a 1-3-year-old female Pitbull and a 1-3-year-old male Pitbull.

 

The live dogs were Nyrobi, Francis, and Wade.

 

Nyrobi, a female Pitbull mix was found inside of a crate on the first floor of the home.

 

Francis, a male Pitbull mix, was 2 years old when he was rescued and was found in the basement. He was “thin and had multiple wounds and scarring on his face, chest, front legs and rump.”

 

Wade, a male Pitbull mix, was approximately 3-5 years old when he was rescued. He was found “chained in the basement.” Wade “...was thin and had multiple wounds and scarring on his face.”

 

According to the SPCA Serving Erie County, Wade was adopted in November 2022, after 202 days at the shelter. Wade is pictured below with mom Brenda and daddy Frank of Buffalo.

 

In April 2024, JACKSON and the co-defendant in the case were arraigned before Erie County Court Judge Sheila A. DiTullio on an indictment charging them each with the following offenses:

 

·Three counts of Prohibition of Animal Fighting (Class “E” felonies under New York Agriculture and Markets Law)

 

·Four counts of Overdriving, Torturing, and Injuring Animals; Failure to Provide Proper Sustenance (Class “A” misdemeanors under New York Agriculture and Markets Law)

 

·One count of Prohibition of Animal Fighting, Possession, Sale or Making of Animal Fighting Paraphernalia (Class “B” misdemeanor under New York Agriculture and Markets Law)

 

After their arraignment, Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn said in a press release that JACKSON and the co-defendant “…while acting in concert with one another, are accused of training three pit bull mixed breed dogs, two males and one female, under circumstances evincing an intent for the dogs to engage in animal fighting for amusement or gain. The defendants are also accused of intentionally depriving the dogs of food and medical treatment.”

 

DA Flynn said in a statement: “These defendants are accused of using cruel methods to train these dogs to become dangerous animals. This case highlights the tragedy of these underground, illegal activities. I want to thank the SPCA Serving Erie County for their work in this case and other animal cruelty investigations.”

 

On March 19, 2024, JACKSON pleaded guilty to all eight counts in the indictment against him.

 

Let’s get back to the sentence and see what the life of defenseless animals is worth to the law and to those who represent it.

 

JACKSON received a one-year sentence for his conviction in the animal cruelty case.

 

JACKSON will serve that concurrently with his determinate sentence of two years in prison, followed by three years of post-release supervision for an unrelated gun charge case.

 

The Erie County District Attorney’s Office stated that a final “no animal” order was issued which prohibits JACKSON “…from owning or caring for any animals for the next 30 years.”

 

As for the co-defendant in the case, JACKSON’s girlfriend, the case against her was dismissed in view of JACKSON accepting full responsibility for all charges in the indictment.

 

I have emailed the SPCA Serving Erie County and requested pictures of all of the Voiceless Victims. Should I receive them, I will add them to the gallery below.

 

I took the liberty of naming the deceased furvictims Bluebell and Daffodil for the tribute image. 

# # #

 

Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official press releases by Erie County authorities. Links included. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

 

 

JACKSON’s mugshot provided to Voice For Us by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office.




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Writer's picturevoiceforus
Nov 14, 20233 min read

MICHELE LYNN DOVEL sentenced to two years in prison for abandoning her dogs – One was found dead

- Florida, USA -


On October 9, 2023, St. Lucie County Circuit Judge Michael C. Heisey sentenced 34-years-old MICHELE LYNN DOVEL (pictured) to two years in prison for abandoning her three dogs in a hot, filthy home for weeks. One dog was sadly found deceased.

DOVEL’s release will be followed by a probation period of three years.


According to the criminal complaint obtained by Voice For Us, on July 31, 2022, a deputy with the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a home on 334 Melton Drive in Fort Pierce in reference to an animal complaint.


Upon arrival, the deputy spoke with a neighbor. The neighbor explained that she hadn’t seen DOVEL in approximately 8 weeks and assumed she had taken her dogs with her until she heard them barking that day while she was in the backyard and decided to call 911 to request a welfare check.


The deputy reported that “the yard was overgrown and unkept as if the home had been abandoned.” He then walked to the back porch and “was immediately greeted at the rear sliding door by two extremely thin dogs whining and making sad puppy dog eyes.”


The deputy walked around the home to find a way in but all the windows were closed and the front door was locked. On one of the windows the deputy saw a handwritten sign that read: “in case of fire save the three dogs inside.” When the deputy went back to the rear porch, he gave the bottom of the door a little kick and he accidentally broke the glass.


He then safely got the two dogs out of the home. The complaint identified the dogs as Coco and Dixie.

Coco and Dixie were malnourished. Coco was so emaciated that her ribs, spine and hipbone were showing. They immediately ran toward a flowerpot and started drinking the rain water that was inside. The deputy asked the neighbor for some food and fresh water.


The deputy entered the home and saw that the thermostat read 98 degrees.

The home was covered in dog feces and there was no sign of food or water for Coco and Dixie.

The third dog could not be found.


Animal Control Officer Patterson responded to the scene and took Coco and Dixie to Midway Veterinary Hospital for treatment.


The deceased dog, identified as Lucky, was found on August 7, 2022, by Mr. Grunfeld who was asked to clean the home by the property owner.

Mr. Grunfeld found Lucky, a black and white Beagle, wrapped in a blanket in the utility room next to the kitchen by the water heater. Lucky was decomposed and mummified.


When investigators met with DOVEL, she told them that she was running from a domestic abuse situation and said: “My boyfriend threatened to kill me. The neighbor was supposed to be taking the dogs.” DOVEL, however, refused to give the neighbor’s name.


DOVEL went on to say that she was scared to go back to the residence due to her ex-boyfriend getting out of jail at the end of June or the beginning of July.


The criminal complaint stated that DOVEL “never called 911 to have a Deputy stand by at 334 Melton Drive so she could retrieve Coco and Dixie.”


According to the complaint, DOVEL “inflicted unnecessary pain and suffering to Coco and Dixie by abandoning them in a 98 degrees residence with no food, water and means to go outside to use the bathroom”.


DOVEL agreed to sign Coco and Dixie over to Animal Control.


As for Lucky, she said he had passed away a few months back and intended to cremate him but that never happened.


DOVEL was arrested on September 23, 2022.


Assistant State Attorney Robert Stone told WPTV: “Coco and Dixie were left in an abusive relationship as well. That's what bothered me the most. There were so many opportunities. It takes a second to pick up the phone and call animal control, call her brother who said he would have taken the dogs. Other people in the neighborhood said they would help her. Call police, anyone.”


WPTV reports that Coco recovered and “was adopted by an adoring dad.”

Dixie has a new family where she has another dog and a human brother to play with.

Lori Boettger with Paws Fur Recovery Dog Rescue helped arrange the adoptions.

“The dogs are in loving homes, and they've been well taken care of,” she told WPTV.


Lucky, you are in my heart with so many others Voiceless Victims.


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Link included.

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.



DOVEL’s mugshot shared from the Florida Department of Corrections






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Writer's picturevoiceforus
Oct 27, 20234 min read

RONDA LYNN MURPHY, of Helping Hands for Furry Paws, pleaded not guilty to 23 animal cruelty charges

Updated: Apr 11

- Ohio, USA -


~ Update: April 11, 2024

 

On Monday, April 8, 2024, Butler County Common Pleas Judge Noah Powers II sentenced 61-years-old RONDA LYNN MURPHY (pictured), who ran a rescue called “Helping Hands for Furry Paws,” in an animal cruelty case that began in Summer 2023. More than ninety (90) dogs were removed from her property and thirty (30) dogs were sadly found deceased.

 

Judge Powers sentenced MURPHY to fifty-four (54) months in prison and ordered her to pay $16,221 to the nonprofit animal shelter Animal Friends Humane Society. The money is to reimburse the shelter for the cost of caring for those dogs during the week it took for MURPHY to relinquish her rights to the animals.

 

Additionally, Judge Powers ordered MURPHY be indefinitely barred from keeping any companion animals after she is released from prison.

 

In October 2023, MURPHY had been indicted on sixteen (16) fifth-degree felony counts of cruelty to companion animals and seven misdemeanors of the same charge.

 

In January 2024, MURPHY pleaded guilty to twelve (12) counts, eight (8) of which were felonies, and the remaining counts were dismissed.


 

~ Original story:


On Tuesday, October 24, 2023, 60-years-old RONDA LYNN MURPHY (pictured), was in Butler County Common Pleas Court. She pleaded not guilty to twenty-three (23) counts of animal cruelty.


It all started on July 27, 2023, when deputies with the Butler County Sheriff’s Office and Deputy Dog Wardens responded to MURPHY’s home on Mosiman Road in Madison Township to check on the welfare of dogs living there.


In a media release of August 2, 2023, Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones said that an investigation revealed that several dogs “were being housed in various structures on two Madison Township properties owned by Murphy.”


Officials conducted searches at both properties, at Mosiman Road and Eck Road, and found the animals in “the most horrible conditions ever seen”, stated the release.


In a garage, authorities found dogs in cages with no ventilation or air conditioning, and the inside temperature hitting almost 90 degrees. Many dogs were housed together in cages filled with urine, fecal matter, with no food or water. Other cages contained mothers and newborn puppies.


Sadly, about thirty (30) deceased dogs were discovered inside refrigerators and freezers “and other locations on the properties in varying states of decomposition.”


According to the release, Deputy Dog Wardens described the conditions of the main house as “unlivable”. The odor emanating from the property was so strong that it was burning the officials’ eyes.

More than eighty (80) living dogs and puppies were removed and placed in the care of Animal Friends Humane Society.


The Butler County Sheriff’s Office arrested MURPHY on August 2, 2023. She was initially charged with two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to a companion animal and one felony count of cruelty to a companion animal. Back then, Sheriff Jones said that as this investigation continued to unfold, more charges could be filed.


On October 11, 2023, a Butler County grand jury indicted MURPHY on seven (7) misdemeanor counts of cruelty to companion animals, and sixteen (16) felony counts of cruelty to companion animals.


Court records show that MURPHY is scheduled to be back at Butler County Common Pleas Court on November 21, 2023, at 8:30 a.m.


At the time of the arrest, MURPHY was the operator of Helping Hands for Furry Paws animal rescue out of the Mosiman Road property.


WKRC reports that between February 2020 and July 2023, Dog Wardens visited MURPHY’s two properties forty-two (42) times.

The news outlet further reports that for years, people had reported MURPHY’s “dogs were living in dirty conditions”, but when Dog Wardens went to do welfare checks, the dogs shown to them, appeared to be fine.


In May 2021, Dog Wardens had to leave two notices at MURPHY’s home before they were allowed to do a welfare check; In October 2021, they had to leave three notices, and in 2022, they had to wait a whole month before they could finally meet with MURPHY in June.


During the June 2022 visit, Dog Wardens noted that three of MURPHY’s dogs “appeared thin and were suffering from hair loss”, reports WKRC.

Dog Wardens then made a surprise visit in July 2022, and on that occasion, they said MURPHY showed them twenty-seven (27) dogs. Dog Wardens reported “a foul-smelling driveway with pallets of rotting dog food and ‘sticky, dirty floors,’ but said the cages were clean and the dogs appeared healthy.”


In 2023, Dog Wardens visited MURPHY’s home sixteen (16) times prior to the final visit on July 27.


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.



MURPHY’s mugshot shared from the Butler County Sheriff’s Office.


Additional Sources:



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