In Lorain Municipal Court Judge Thomas Elwell’s courtroom Feb. 10, Daughney, 36, of 3106 Cromwell Drive, entered the plea to single counts of killing or injuring animals and cruelty to companion animals, both first-degree misdemeanors.
The charges against Daughney stem from a February summons he was issued, and then his subsequent arrest for an alleged parole violation, in connection to the hanging of Memphis.
According to a Lorain Police Department news release, around 10:45 p.m. Jan. 31, officers responded to the area of Euclid Avenue and River Industrial Parkway after receiving a complaint about a dog tied to a tree.
Officers found a 130-pound deceased mastiff hung to the side of a semi-trailer which was parked in a low vehicle and pedestrian area where other empty tractor trailers were typically parked.
According to the incident report, officers noticed the dog was hanging from the trailer by its chain choke collar.
When police observed the location and manner in which the dog was hung, officers determined that there was no possible way that the dog could have accidentally choked itself.
The aroma of urine and fecal matter near the dog at the site signified to officers that the dog was alive during the strangling and was later asphyxiated.
The dog was removed from the side of the trailer and transported to the Lorain Animal Clinic, where it was held in an outside kennel until it could be examined, the release said.
Lorain police Humane Officer Rick Broz later identified Daughney as the person responsible for Memphis’ hanging and he was shortly after charged with the crime.
In speaking with Daughney, officers discovered that he took in the animal, but said he didn’t want it anymore because it was (allegedly) violent to his other pets.
Prior to Daughney’s arraignment hearing, county residents and members of the Nitro Foundation rallied outside the courthouse in support of Memphis.
Lorain resident Rebecca Boone said the crime against Memphis had her wondering about what else Daughney is capable of.
“If he didn’t want the dog, there were so many things he could have done besides hanging him,” Boone said. “It just makes you stop and think to yourself, if he could do this to an innocent dog, what else is he capable of?”
Elyria resident Danny Adkins argued for stricter punishment for those capable of killing and abusing animals.
“All of us here today believe that if there was harsher punishment for crimes like this, we would see less and less of these crimes throughout the city, county and state,” Adkins said.
“Making a crime like this only a misdemeanor just lets others know that killing an animal is more frowned upon than wrong. It’s a slap on the wrist and something needs to be done about it.”
Daughney is scheduled to appear back in Elwell’s courtroom Feb. 18 for a pre-trial hearing.
Elwell appointed Elyria attorney JD Tomlinson to represent Daughney pending a review of his financial situation.
Daughney was granted a $2,500 cash or surety bond. He is being held in the Lorain County Jail.
(The Morning Journal-Feb 10, 2015)
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