O’Scanlon and DiMaso Introduce “River’s Law” To Increase Penalties For Animal Abuse

River

Senator Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso have introduced legislation that will increase certain animal abuse crimes to the second degree level.  Convictions for second degree crimes carry penalties of five to 10 years imprisonment and fines of up to $150,000.

The legislation is named for River, a pitbull/mix that was rescued by a Good Samaritan, Jennifer Vaz of Highlands, who discovered the dog caged and left to drown on the banks of the Shrewbury River at Veterans Memorial Park last June.

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O’Scanlon’s Legislation Would Increase Prison Terms For Animal Abusers

Seantor Declan O’Scanlon announced this morning that he plans to introduce legislation that would make aggravated animal abuse a second or third degree crime, depending on the severity of the offense.

Second degree crime convictions carry sentences of 5-10 years in state prison and fines of up to $150,000.  Third degree crime convictions do not carry the presumption of incarceration but can carry sentences of 3-5 in state prison and fines up to $15,000.

Senator O’Scanlon said his legislation is spurred by recent reports of animal abuse in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.  Last month Aaron Davis of Long Branch was arrested and accused of leaving a caged pit bull to die on the banks for the Shrewsbury River in Highlands. Davis was charged with a third degree crime, which does not presume incarceration, though he is in the custody of the Monmouth County Correctional Institution pending trial. Read the rest of this entry »

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Aaron Davis, Long Branch Man Charged With Leaving Caged Dog To Drown, Will Remain In Custody Till Trial

Aaron Davis, the Long Branch man charged with leaving River, a pit bull mix, caged on the banks of the Shrewsbury River in Highlands last month, will remain in the custody of the Monmouth County Correctional Institution pending his trail, according to a social media post by the Prosecutor’s Office.

Superior Court Judge James J. McGann ruled this afternoon that Davis, who surrendered to authorities on August 7, remain in custody. Read the rest of this entry »

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Aaron Davis, Man Who Attempted To Drown Dog In Highlands, Surrenders To Authorities

Aaron D. Davis

Aaron D. Davis, 36, of Long Branch, the man charged with the leaving a dog, now named River, to drown in a cage on the banks of the Shrewsbury River in Highlands, surrendered to law enforcement authorities this morning, according to an announcement by Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni.

Davis was charged last Friday with third degree Animal Cruelty – Attempting to Cause Death or Serious Bodily Injury to an Animal and disorderly persons offenses of Abandonment of a Domestic Animal, Failure to Provide Necessary Care and Failure to Provide Proper Shelter.

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Long Branch Man Wanted For Leaving Caged Dog To Drown

River

The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office announced via social media that Aaron D. Davis, 36, of Long Branch is wanted for leaving a caged dog, now named River, on the banks of the Shrewsbury River in Highlands on the morning of July 30th.

Anyone who has any information on the whereabouts of Aaron Davis or that may have witnessed anything, please notify the Monmouth County SPCA Animal Cruelty Hot Line 877-898-7297 or alternatively, the Highlands Police Department at 732-872-1158. #mcponj

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