Ross Garrett Cheney got a whopping 14 days in jail for felony animal cruelty that resulted in horrific agony. Wow! Way to go Judge. The State had asked for a year.
Man who dragged dog to death sentenced to 14 days
04-10-2017
A Niceville man who was found guilty of aggravated animal cruelty will serve just 14 days in jail, which is nearly a year less than requested by prosecutors. Ross Garrett Cheney, 29, of Everglade Drive, was arrested on Aug. 8, 2016.
According to Bill Bishop, the chief assistant state attorney in Okaloosa County, Cheney’s dog reportedly got away from his house, and he and other family members went to look for him. When Cheney located the dog some distance from his house, he reportedly placed a leash around the dog’s neck and had him run alongside his car on his way back home.
“At some point, the animal couldn’t keep up,” Bishop said. “He apparently dragged the dog for some distance before someone flagged him down.”
The dog died.
Bishop’s office charged Cheney with aggravated animal cruelty, and the defendant was found guilty when the case went to trial on Feb. 9.
“Our office recommended that Cheney be sentenced to 11 months and 29 days, with four years of probation,” Bishop said. “But (Circuit) Judge (John) Brown sentenced him to 14 days in the Okaloosa County Jail, with two years probation and 100 days of community service.”
In addition, Brown deviated from the sentencing recommendation by withholding adjudication in the case. That means Cheney will not have a felony conviction on his record. The judge also allowed Cheney to serve his sentence on weekends, rather than spending 14 consecutive days in jail.
This isn’t the first time Cheney has been allowed to serve a “weekender sentence.” On Aug. 8, 2008, Cheney was arrested for driving with a revoked or suspended license, and served five consecutive weekends starting on Jan. 16, 2009.
Cheney was subsequently charged with being a habitual offender after being arrested on the same charge on May 22, 2009. He was arrested again on June 11, 2009 for a probation violation.
DNA Florida
https://www.facebook.com/DNAFlorida/photos/a.1593530534194720.1073741847.1592631657617941/1890746494473121/?type=3&theater
