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Domestic violence charge elevated by animal cruelty allegations
Man is charged with attacking both his wife and the family dog.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
A Madison Twp. man has been indicted for felony domestic violence and felonious assault after allegedly wrapping an iron cord around his wife's neck and holding a gun to her head.
But Butler County prosecutors say Kellie Roberts was not the only victim of Rick Roberts' attack. The Keister Road man was also indicted for kicking the family dog during the incident.
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Last week, a Butler County grand jury indicted Roberts, 38, on two counts of felonious assault, on with a firearm specification, domestic violence and cruelty to companion animals stemming from an alleged attack on March 26.
According to the Butler County Sheriff's report, Kellie Roberts called for help in the area of Ohio 4 and Corlee Road because her husband, who was armed, was chasing her in another vehicle. Deputies stopped both cars on Trenton-Franklin Road south of Michael Road and the man was arrested at gunpoint.
Kellie Roberts said she and Rick Roberts were arguing when he took a cord from an iron and wrapped it around her neck. He then dropped the iron, went into the bedroom, got a gun and held it to her head, Kellie Robert said. She was able to get away, fleeing in a vehicle with her husband in pursuit.
Detective Sgt. Melina Smith said during preliminary hearing in Middletown Municipal Court that Kellie Roberts said her husband also abused the family dog while they were arguing.
Assistant Butler County Prosecutor Lance Salyers said it is the first indictment of its kind pursued by the prosecutor's office, but more are coming.
"Now with case of domestic violence, if the charge is warranted, we will be seeking it," Salyers said, noting there is a strong correlation between domestic violence and animal abuse.
He said abusers will often threaten a pet in order to keep a victim in line or terrorize the victim, usually a woman or child, with threats to hurt a beloved pet if they tell about the abuse. Salyers said often the victim has difficulty leaving the situation, because they fear for the pet's life.
Salyers, a cat lover, said animals "have a very real power to heal and a very serious impact when used as weapons. The abuse (of pets) is going to be dealt with, if we have knowledge of it."
Currently, cruelty to companion animals is a first degree misdemeanor on the first offense, but raises to the level of a felony in subsequent offenses, much like Ohio's domestic violence laws.
This year State Rep. Courtney Combs introduced a House bill 418, drafted with help of Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper, to combate the connection between animal cruelty and domestic violence. This reality led myself and Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper to draft legislation to combat this trend and the product is House Bill 418.
The proposal addresses several points, including adding domestic pets to protection orders completed by law enforcement when called to domestic violence crime scenes. By adding pets to protection orders, local animal control and law enforcement will have a broader knowledge and access to a crime scene, according to Combs.
When animal cruelty is used in the commission of domestic violence crimes or stalking, this bill adds new penalties. It also strengthens probation after conviction and provides a counseling component for minors if convicted of animal cruelty.
By increasing penalties for animal cruelty, linking domestic violence and animal cruelty, and providing counseling for minors who commit crimes of animal cruelty, we are taking steps to help stem the rise in animal cruelty cases and giving victims and law enforcement the ability to protect pets in cases of domestic violence.
Earlier this month, Combs said, HB 418 had its second hearing in the Criminal Justice Committee in the House of Representatives and there was a large turnout of supporters. There were representatives from the Humane Society, Cleveland Animal Protective League, ACTION OHIO Coalition for Battered Women.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2168 or lpack@coxohio.com.
