(FIRST FELONY) Animal cruelty case will go to court (faces up to five years in prison)

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10327358

Published Monday | May 5, 2008
Animal cruelty case will go to court
BY JOHN FERAK
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

The first person in Douglas County to be charged with felony animal cruelty will have his case resolved in district court.

Keion Shelton, 26, asked County Judge Lyn White that his preliminary hearing, which was set for today, be waived. A few minutes later, Shelton declined to comment as he walked out of the courthouse.

He remains free after posting 10 percent of his $5,000 bail.

Prosecutor Joe Naatz told the judge that Shelton had left town for a business trip for at least a week in mid-February and failed to provide adequate food or shelter for Hulk, a pit bull he owned and left chained in his yard.

Authorities said Shelton left less than one day's worth of food and water for the dog, but both the food and water froze. Neighbors found the dog dead from starvation and hypothermia and contacted police.

Shelton faces up to five years in prison.

The ban stands if he cops a plea to get a reduced sentence.

My initial reaction is to give him what he gave that poor puppy. Human supremacists might be offended.

That poor dog.

This will be huge if he's convicted.

I think chaining dogs outside should be banned. If you want a dog, then fence
your yard! What makes this even more sickening is he must have money. He could
have hired a pet sitter. He obviously could have cared less for the poor dog. A
pet sitter charges about $15 a visit.

old.