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Monroe
Hart man charged with felony for allegedly killing dog.
#OceanaCountyCrime
By Allison Scarbrough.
HART — A 43-year-old Hart man faces a felony of killing/torturing an animal for allegedly killing his dog due to not properly caring for it.
William Jon Monroe, of 3291 N. 120th Ave., was arrested by the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office Nov. 2 for a felony of killing/torturing an animal and a misdemeanor of abandonment/cruelty to two or three animals.
After receiving a citizen complaint that an animal was not being properly cared for, a sheriff’s deputy discovered that one of Monroe’s dogs was deceased and another dog was in “poor shape,” said Oceana County Prosecutor Joseph Bizon.
“He did not intentionally kill the animal,” Bizon said. However, the dog died because of Monroe’s alleged improper care.
Due to double jeopardy, Monroe can’t be convicted of both offenses, Bizon said. If the felony case is not successful, then the misdemeanor offense will be utilized as a “precautionary back-up charge.” Double jeopardy is a Fifth Amendment clause that prevents a person from being prosecuted twice for substantially the same offense.
A preliminary exam in 78th District Court is set for Nov. 20 at 3 p.m. Monroe’s bail was set at $7,500/cash/surety/10 percent.
Killing/torturing an animal is punishable by up to four years in prison, and abandonment/cruelty to an animal is punishable by up to one year in jail.
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