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ROBERT DARRELL KELLEY and JACOB CONNER BRADY arrested for shooting a horse

- Virginia, USA -

 

The Hanover County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of 18-years-old ROBERT DARRELL KELLEY and 20-years-old JACOB CONNER BRADY (both pictured), for the shooting of a horse.

 

In a media release, the sheriff’s office said that on October 18, 2023, deputies responded to the 11200 block of Cauthorne Road in Glen Allen to investigate the shooting of a 19-year-old American Paint horse named Jake. Deputies learned that the day before, Jake had been shot between his jaw and eye.

 

Jake was severely injured but thankfully survived the shooting. He was taken to the Blue Ridge Equine Clinic in Charlottesville where he “underwent multiple surgeries to repair and reconstruct his sinus cavity and dental structure”, stated the release.

 

WRIC reports that Lindsay Neist, with Virginia Equine PLLC in Goochland County, received a call from Jake’s family asking her to check on him before it was ultimately determined that he had been shot.

 

Ms. Neist told WRIC: “By the time I got there the owner was suspicious that it had been a gunshot wound. She had found kind of a trail of blood and someone had heard a gunshot the night before.”

 

Ms. Neist examined Jake and did radiographs which showed bullet debris. She also reported that Jake’s teeth had been damaged and that he is battling an infection.

 

Sergeant Steve Wills with the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office tells me that Jake is “recovering well from [what] I am told.” 

 

In an interview with 12 On Your Side, Sergeant Wills recounted the facts and explained that in the same area where Jake was shot, there also had been also shootings involving some mailboxes. Deputies were first alerted on October 14, 2023, and then again on October  17, 2023, when Jake was also shot.

 

At the scene of Jake’s shooting, investigators recovered two rifle cartridges. The sheriff’s office said that through evidence found at the scene and technology, KELLEY and BRADY were identified and arrested with the assistance of the Richmond Police Department and the Chesterfield Police Department.

 

KELLEY, of Chesterfield, and BRADY, of Richmond, were placed under arrest on December 5, 2023, and booked into the Pamunkey Regional Jail on animal cruelty, maiming of livestock, destruction of property, and maliciously shooting into an occupied building among other charges. They are being held without bond.

 

Sergeant Wills further told me that KELLEY and BRADY “were fairly forthcoming with their actions.  We believe they have committed similar offenses in other jurisdictions and we are currently working with those jurisdictions to investigate.”

 

With regard to KELLEY and BRADY’s arrest, Ms. Neist told WRIC: “I’m grateful that they were caught. Now that they found these guys, it’s cruel for no reason other than to be cruel. It’s disgusting to think someone would like purposely do that which is hard to believe but was the case. I feel really good for the horse and for the family.”

 

Court records show that KELLEY and BRADY are scheduled to appear at Hanover General District Court on Friday, February 2, 2024, at 8:30 a.m.

 

The Hanover County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information regarding Jake’s shooting to contact the office at (804) - 365 - 6140 or the Metro Richmond Crime Stoppers at (804) - 780 - 1000. Thank you!

 

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.

 

 

Mugshots shared from the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office.

 

Jake’s pictures provided to Voice For Us by the Hanover County Sheriff's Office.





 
 
 

MICHAEL A. JOHNSON SR., wed to Hampton Sheriff’s Office Lt. Carolyn Johnson, accused of dogfighting

Updated: Sep 27, 2023

- Virginia, USA -


~ Update: September 27, 2023


On Monday, September 25, 2023, 59-years-old MICHAEL A. JOHNSON SR. and his wife, 58-years-old CAROLYN W. JOHNSON (both pictured), appeared in Hampton General District Court on animal cruelty charges that were filed against them in July 2023.


In July, the Hampton Police Department arrested MICHAEL A. JOHNSON SR. and charged him with animal cruelty and dogfighting after four adult Pitbulls and four Pitbull puppies were found living in poor health and unsafe conditions at the couple’s home on Ireland Street.

Detectives also recovered evidence suggesting that the dogs were being conditioned for fights.


Shortly after the arrest, police announced that the defendant’s wife, CAROLYN W. JOHNSON, had also been charged in connection with the case, with eight counts of Failure to Provide Duties of Ownership and eight counts of Animal Cruelty.

At the time, she was a Lieutenant with the Hampton Sheriff's Office. After she was charged, she was placed on administrative leave and then retired.


13NewsNow reports that on Monday, all the charges were pushed back.

“Representatives of the Virginia Attorney General's Office handling the case announced they will not prosecute the couple on these charges at this time. Attorneys could bring the charges back to court at a later time pending new evidence”, reports 13NewsNow.


All the misdemeanor charges filed against CAROLYN W. JOHNSON were nolle prossed, a Latin phrase meaning “to be unwilling to prosecute.”

All the charges filed against her husband, two of which are felonies, were also nolle prossed.

Pending new evidence in their investigation, attorneys still have the chance to bring the charges back to court.


I emailed Victoria LaCivita, spokeswoman for the Virginia Attorney General's Office and asked her: “In addition to the poor conditions the dogs and puppies were found in, would you please disclose what new evidence is required to bring back the charges and prosecute the defendants?” To that, Ms. LaCivita responded: “Despite the hearing, the investigation remains ongoing and I cannot comment on pending litigation.”


I am not just angry and disappointed; I am also extremely confused as to how the investigations were conducted and what importance was given to the evidence recovered from the couple’s residence. Once again, we have Voiceless Victims without justice!




~ Update: July 27, 2023


According to a press release by the Hampton Police Department, 58-years-old CAROLYN JOHNSON has also been charged in connection with this case. She is facing eight (8) counts of Failure to Provide Duties of Ownership and eight (8) counts of Animal Cruelty.



~ Original story:


Following a complaint submitted to the Hampton Animal Response Team (HART) on July 25, 2023, the Hampton Police Division arrested 59-years-old MICHAEL A. JOHNSON SR., accused of dogfighting.


The Virginian-Pilot reports that JOHNSON is married to Lieutenant Carolyn Johnson of the Hampton Sheriff’s Office.


HART officers responded to a home on Ireland Street near Phoebus High School but JOHNSON did not allow them to perform a welfare check on his dogs so a search warrant was obtained and executed.

Officials found eight dogs, four adult Pitbulls and four Pitbull puppies, living in poor health and unsafe conditions.


WAVY reports that according to court documents, “The dogs had rough and raw skin and were covered in fleas. The animals ears’ were bleeding because of fly bites.”

The Voiceless Victims were being kept in kennels covered with feces.


Inside a shed, officers found evidence consistent with preparing dogs for fighting and inside the home they found “documents and items associated with breeding and conditioning a dog”, reports WAVY.


Police said that JOHNSON has been charged with eight (8) counts of Animal Cruelty, eight (8) counts of Failure to Provide Duties of Ownership, and four (4) counts of Dogfighting.


JOHNSON was released on a meager $5,000 bond. A condition set by a judge is that no animals are to be in the residence until the court authorizes otherwise.

Court records show that JOHNSON is scheduled to appear at Hampton General District Court on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at 8:30 a.m.


The Hampton Animal Response Team removed all eight furvictims and took them to the Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter. Needless to say, I have emailed PRAS to inquire about the furbabies’ well being and if I hear back, I will post an update.


The investigation is ongoing.


JOHNSON, get a job instead of using innocent dogs to make a living!


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.



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CARL RUDOLPH LENTZ arrested – Twenty-eight animals found dead and forty-seven live ones removed

- Virginia, USA -


Augusta County Sheriff Donald L. Smith announced the arrest of 59-years-old CARL RUDOLPH LENTZ (pictured).


According to a press release by the sheriff’s office, on June 2, 2023 Augusta County Animal Control received an anonymous call about the living conditions at a property in the 700 Block of Augusta Farms Road. “A citizen had recently purchased a dog from this location”, stated the release.

Animal Control and the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation and when officers responded to the location, they found two dogs who appeared to be living inside a vehicle. According to the sheriff’s office, the vehicle was covered in feces, there was no food or water for the dogs, and the temperature inside the vehicle was 89.6 degrees.

As a result of the extreme temperature, Augusta County Animal Control removed the two Voiceless Victims.


As stated in the release, on the property there were several other dogs who appeared to be in poor condition so with the assistance of the sheriff’s office, Augusta County Animal Control obtained a search warrant.


Sadly, throughout the property officers discovered twenty (20) dead cats and eight (8) dead dogs.


As for the live animals, officers found and removed thirteen (13) cats, twenty-eight (28) dogs, and six (6) ducks. Four of the cats had to be euthanized and one dog had to have his/her leg amputated.

The sheriff’s office said that a temporary emergency shelter has been established by Augusta County at the Government Center in Verona to house all the rescued furvictims.


LENTZ, of Waynesboro, was arrested Friday, June 2, 2023, on one felony count of animal cruelty. On June 5, 2023, an additional five felony charges of animal cruelty were obtained and served by the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office.


LENTZ is being held without bond at Middle River Regional Jail.

Online court records show that he is due back at Augusta General District Court on July 11, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.


Sheriff Smith advises those who may have “purchased any animals” from LENTZ or have knowledge of the living conditions at this location, to contact the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office at (540) - 245 - 5333 and reference report number 2023-0001669. Thank you.


The sheriff further said that this is still an ongoing investigation and no additional details will be released at this time.


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.



LENTZ’s mugshot via Middle River Regional Jail.


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