A 21-year-old man was the first person convicted in Montgomery County under a new state law for aggravated animal cruelty.

Speight, of no fixed address, was found guilty by a jury Oct. 30 for the July 4 beating death of a 4-month-old pit bull puppy in
Germantown.

The felony carries a punishment of up to three years in prison and a $5,000 fine. His sentence also will include psychological counseling as required under the Maryland Cruelty Statue enacted Oct. 1, 2001.

"[The conviction is] a great precedent because the danger in allowing people to be cruel to animals can't be overstated," said assistant state's attorney Alex Foster, who prosecuted the case. "It's very important to check the violence early on." Animal cruelty could escalate to other crimes, he said.

Under the former state law, the crime would have been a misdemeanor punishable by up to three months in jail and a $1,000 fine, Foster said.

Speight, who is being held without bond, will be sentenced Jan. 15. He has been in jail since August unable to post a $20,000 bond,
Foster said.

According to charging documents, police were called to the 18500 block of Nutmeg Place in Germantown at about 10:30 pm July 4 for a report of a dead dog.

Foster said two people in the neighborhood saw Speight beat the dog to death. "They were very brave in coming forward," he said.

Neighbor Tracy Alexander saw Speight kicking the leashed dog, throwing the dog into his truck hard enough to hit the truck's
passenger side door and repeatedly striking the dog, according to charging documents. Later, the dog was dropped off and died in her yard.

The defense said the dog was killed by a car, Foster said.

Speight's friend Anthony Dyson testified Oct. 30 that Speight was with him launching fireworks during the time the beating of the dog took place. Dyson said he did not see Speight kick or beat the dog. Speight, who said he was not the dog's owner, also took the stand and denied that he killed the dog.

The jury deliberated for about two hours before deciding on the guilty verdict, Foster said.

If you want to write the prosecuting attorney to ask for maximum
sentencing (or ask him to pass on your letter to the Judge):

Alex Foster, Esq.
Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office
50 Maryland Avenue, 5th Floor
Rockville, Maryland 20850
(240) 777-7300

Reference:

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