Success! S.C. Dog Dragger is Convicted of Felony Animal Cruelty, Gets 10+ Years (story & courtvideo

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.care2.com/causes/success-s-c-dog-dragger-is-convicted-of-felony-animal-cruelty-gets-10-years.html

by Susan BirdJuly 21, 2014



Remember the heartbreaking story of Andra Grace, the young pit bull who was cruelly dragged behind a pickup truck for two miles in late October 2013?

If you do, you probably also remember the petition that over 2,700 Care2 readers signed, demanding that South Carolina authorities upgrade the charges against the man accused of that gut wrenching crime from a misdemeanor to a felony.

We have some very good news for those of you following this case. Those charges were indeed upgraded and the accused, Roger Dennis Owens, was convicted on July 15. He’ll be spending the next 10 and a half years in prison for what he did.

Watch footage from the hearing in this news report:

In his court appearance, Owens told Circuit Judge Letitia Verdin that he intended to “plead guilty to my charges and get it behind me.” He added that he’d recently been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Owens revealed a bombshell during his testimony — someone paid him off with drugs and alcohol to take Andra Grace and get rid of her.

Judge: “One of the Cruelest Things That I‘ve Seen Since I‘ve Been on the Bench”


Photo credit: Justice for Andra Grace Facebook page

FULL story at link.

[840high]

1. Good.

[BrotherIvan]

3. + a million

[Divernan]

2. Update on Andra Grace: adopted and doing all right

Andra Grace lives in Florida now with her new adoptive parent, Lynne Dixon, and her family. When Dixon heard the news about Owens’ conviction, she became emotional.

“[Andra Grace] was in her bed and I knelt down. And I was already bawling. And I just climbed into her bed with her and scooped her up and squeezed her,” Dixon told WSAV.

Andra Grace has healed up nicely, though some of her fur is gone and will never grow back. She’ll always bear scars — both physical and emotional — from her horrific ordeal. Don’t worry about her, though, Care2 readers. She’s safe and loved. Her abuser is in jail with a felony conviction forever on his record.

Your signatures helped bring justice for Andra Grace. Without the angry public outcry that demanded a more serious charge for this offense, Owens would be spending decidedly fewer years behind bars. You helped make a real difference for this dog.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/success-s-c-dog-dragger-is-convicted-of-felony-animal-cruelty-gets-10-years.html#ixzz38GB80YjU