Dog’s owner charged with cruelty to an animal

Members of an animal rights group provided this photo of a mastiff, Thor, who has since died. Photo provided
COLUMBUS, Ind. —The owner of a deceased mastiff named Thor whose alleged mistreatment incurred the wrath of a large animal rights group has been charged in connection with the canine’s death.

Benjamin D. Collins, 35, of 596 Falcon Drive, is charged by the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office with cruelty to an animal, and is accused of recklessly, knowingly or intentionally abandoning or neglecting the animal, according to court documents.

Under normal circumstances, the charge against Collins, a resident of the Bethel Village subdivision, is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $5,000 fine. However, the charge could be raised to a Level 6 felony if the defendant has a prior unrelated conviction for a similar offense, according to state statutes, according to court documents.

There were actually two arrest warrants issued Tuesday for Collins, according to spokeswoman Judy Jackson of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Dept. Besides cruelty to an animal, he was also arrested on a petition to revoke probation.

Last June, Collins was placed on probation for 18months after pleading guilty to making a false statement regarding his criminal history. When the cruelty to animal charge was filed, prosecutors also filed paperwork that accused him of breaking the terms of his suspended sentence, court documents state.

For the complete story, see Thursday’s Republic.