South Carolina: James Quattlebaum, 25, gets five years in prison for puppy decapitation

SOUTH CAROLINA -- An Aiken man pleaded guilty in court Thursday to multiple charges connected to an October 2015 incident where he was arrested for decapitating a puppy in front of his 37-year-old girlfriend and his two young children.

James Xavier Quattlebaum, 25, of Kershaw Street, pleaded guilty Thursday to charges of ill treatment of animals, unlawful conduct toward a child, second-degree domestic violence and resisting arrest with force.

Second Judicial Circuit Judge Doyet A. Early III sentenced Quattlebaum to five years for ill treatment of animals, five years for unlawful conduct toward a child, three years for second-degree domestic violence and 10 years suspended to five years, with five years of probation for resisting arrest with force.

All sentences will run concurrently, meaning Quattlebaum will serve his five-year active sentence and will be placed on probation for five years after he is released.

Judge Early said if Quattlebaum fails to comply with the requirements of probation, he could be sent back to prison for up to five years. He also will be required to submit to random drug and alcohol screening, substance abuse counseling and perform 100 hours of community service.

Deputy Solicitor David Miller said this was a negotiated sentence.

Aiken Department of Public Safety officers were called to a Kershaw Street home on Oct. 10, 2015, when the victim claimed the suspect arrived home and became angry because he was locked out of the house, according to the report provided by Public Safety.

 

The victim and her two juvenile daughters told officers the suspect reportedly became upset and decapitated one of their 2-week-old puppies with a large kitchen knife while he stood in front of his family, according to the report.

Upon searching the home, officers reported finding blood on a rug and a large kitchen knife nearby that had blood and animal fur on it, the report said.

Before sentencing Thursday, Quattlebaum’s attorney said his client was reportedly under the influence of narcotics during the incident and had problems with cocaine since the age of 19. He also said on the night of the incident, Quattlebaum believes he had been given bath salts, claiming he “could not remember the whole experience and didn’t feel right when he came out of it.”

(Aiken Standard - April 14, 2016)