Michigan Officer Charged With Felony Animal Cruelty After Killing Dog That Nipped Him

A former Michigan corrections officer faces up to seven years in state prison on a felony animal cruelty charge after prosecutors say he bound his pit bull mix with duct tape and shot the dog three times following a minor nipping incident during a nail trim, according to the Washington Post ^[1].

Jacob Wilkinson is accused of binding his newly adopted dog, a pit bull mix named Habs, with duct tape and shooting it three times in the head. The incident was triggered when Wilkinson cut too close while trimming the dog's nails and the dog nipped him ^[1]. Wilkinson told investigators the nail-trimming incident occurred in September or October 2021 ^[2]. According to authorities, Wilkinson then retrieved duct tape, bound the dog's legs and muzzle, placed the dog in his trunk, drove to a remote location, and fired three bullets into the animal's head ^[2].

Authorities opened an investigation after road crews discovered the dog's remains in Tittabawasee Township in Saginaw County. A necropsy confirmed that Habs had been shot three times, and that the dog's front and rear legs, as well as its muzzle, had been duct-taped ^[2]. Investigators traced the dog's microchip to Blue Star Service Dogs, a nonprofit that places rescue animals in prisons for inmate training. That trail led them to Wilkinson, who had adopted Habs after the dog completed its training program ^[3].

Wilkinson, who previously worked for the Michigan Department of Corrections, faces up to seven years in prison on the felony charge, Genesee County Sheriff Christopher Swanson announced ^[2]. The sheriff said Wilkinson confessed during questioning and was immediately terminated from his position. At his arraignment, a judge ordered Wilkinson not to possess firearms or animals ^[2]. Defense attorney Michael Beer noted at arraignment that Wilkinson had also served briefly as a deputy with the Genesee County Sheriff's Department before his termination. Saginaw County District Court Judge David Hoffman set a $10,000 personal recognizance bond ^[3].

Wilkinson is charged with torturing or killing an animal in the second degree under Michigan law, which is punishable by up to seven years in state prison ^[5]. Under Michigan's penal code, the intentional infliction of pain and suffering on an animal carries the most severe animal cruelty penalties, and a violation is automatically a felony ^[9]. Wilkinson served in the National Guard as a combat veteran and studied psychology at Saginaw Valley State University. He did not disclose the incident to county officials when applying for his subsequent law enforcement position or during a psychological evaluation, Swanson said ^[2].

References

[1] The Washington Post. (2022, May 02). Corrections officer tortured, killed his dog for nipping him, sheriff says. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/05/02/michigan-dog-killed-nipping/

[2] The Detroit News. (2022, April 28). Ex-corrections officer charged in his pet dog's torture and killing in Saginaw Co. https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/04/28/ex-corrections-officer-charged-his-pet-dogs-torture-and-killing-saginaw-co/9579001002/

[3] ABC 12 News (WJRT). (2022, April 26). Ex-corrections officer accused of torturing and killing his dog that was trained by inmates. https://www.abc12.com/news/crime/ex-corrections-officer-accused-of-torturing-and-killing-his-dog-that-was-trained-by-inmates/article_8f4c4516-c5a6-11ec-baa2-6f7df09283c7.html

[4] Animal Legal & Historical Center, Michigan State University College of Law. Detailed Discussion of Michigan Anti-animal Cruelty Law. https://www.animallaw.info/article/detailed-discussion-michigan-anti-animal-cruelty-law