Nineteen-year-old Harley Paynter is facing 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted of the misdemeanor charges: animal cruelty, drug abuse and underage alcohol consumption.
The protestors will be standing outside Newark City Hall during Paynter’s 1:45 p.m. hearing, holding signs and urging legislators to take a tougher stance against animal cruelty.
Ohio is one of only seven states that doesn’t punish egregious acts of animal cruelty with a potential felony on the first offense, according to the Humane Society of the United States. Only kennel owners or repeat offenders can be charged with felony animal cruelty.
A bill to make animal cruelty a fifth-degree felony passed the Ohio House of Representatives 84-8 last session but died in the Senate. It would have to be reintroduced and approved by the new General Assembly and governor to become law.
It’s too late to affect Paynter’s sentencing, but his case is a perfect opportunity to spread awareness about Ohio’s soft animal cruelty laws, said Ja’Ney Stoolfire, a Newark animal rights activist and a member of the nonprofit Ohio Voters for Companion Animals.
Stoolfire also is involved in a Newark campaign to scrap a city law that automatically labels pit bulls as vicious.
“This can be changed,” Stoolfire said. “This is a great opportunity to get this out in the air a little more about how our laws do not help animals.
“Animals are voiceless, and they’re helpless, and that’s why people need to stand up and try to make changes,” she said.
Paynter was arrested Dec. 17 after police were called to a Ballard Avenue home and found evidence a pug had been cut apart. Parts of the dog were found inside and outside the home, with some parts apparently never recovered.
Paynter initially pleaded guilty to the charges, telling the judged he was “blacked-out drunk” when it happened and didn’t remember anything. However, he later changed his plea to not guilty and chose to go forward with a trial.
His attorney, Kristin Burkett, of Newark, did not return a message seeking comment, but it appears she may seek treatment in lieu of conviction for Paynter.
The protestors are meeting at 12:30 p.m. Friday outside City Hall. Anyone is welcome to participate, but Stoolfire stressed it is intended to be a peaceful protest and not a shouting match.
“It’s to raise awareness about stuff that needs to change,” she said. “It’s not to get there and scream and freak out about what this guy already did because it’s not going to change (what happened).”
(The Newark Advocate - Feb 11, 2015)
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