Protesters: Give South Bend man, Ares Lee Howard, max sentence in animal cruelty case

INDIANA -- A South Bend man was in court this morning for 11 felony charges of killing and mutilating animals. Prosecutors say some of the animals he’s accused of killing were other people's pets.

Last March police found dozens of dead animals in the alley by Indiana Avenue.

 

 

 

They were able to trace those corpses back to 30-year-old Ares Lee Howard. According to court documents, Howard was shooting neighborhood animals with either a BB gun or a 22 handgun.

Several of the cats found dead belonged to his neighbors.

A group of animal advocates picketed outside of the courthouse during Howard's hearing, essentially asking the judge to give Howard the maximum sentence.

 

Today Howard's lawyer asked that his bond be reduced from $11,000 to just $3,000 so that Howard can leave jail for now and stay with his wife and kids.

Judge Jerome Frese denied that request today, saying Howard's actions were disturbing and dangerous.

The protestors celebrated the judge's decision as a small victory.

"We just want the courts and we want the community to know that there are people in this community that don't think animal abuse of any kind is OK, and torturing, killing, mutilating animals -- no!" said Pam Wesolowski with the Feral Cat Initiative.

 

All eleven of Howard's charges are Class D felonies. He faces up to three years in prison and a $10,000 fine for each of those charges.

Howard's next hearing is scheduled for September 14.

(WSBT-TV - July 15, 2015)

Earlier:

• Family cat among 21 dead animals found in South Bend alley