Tameka Smith pleaded no contest to dog confinement, a misdemeanor charge.
Police said Smith moved last year, leaving her dog chained outside of the Reed Avenue home to die. Investigators said the animal was left with no way to get food and eventually starved to death, having been weakened by the freezing temperatures and snow.
Really, did anyone expect anything different? Rarely do animal abusers like Tameka Smith get a punishment that fits the crime. This was what I was expecting. A slap on the wrist and probation. That's what they all get.
Smith was initially charged with animal cruelty, which is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $750 fine.
Monday, Smith managed to avoid jail time, receiving 250 hours of community service instead, as well as a $500 fine. As part of her sentence Smith will have to volunteer at an animal charity.
Pathetic. wouldn't let her near ANY animals. Campbell County, shame on you.
Animals rights activists have been following the court proceedings and demonstrating every time Smith had a court appearance.
It didn't make one bit of difference. The judge didn't care. The prosecutors didn't care. She was going to get handed this deal from the beginning and all those times, for 20+ months that they trekked downtown and sat in the courtroom, didn't matter to them at all.
VIDEO NEWS CLIP:
(WDTN - Nov 7, 2016)
Earlier:
- Ohio: Police say Tameka Smith moved out of her rental house and left her chained dog to die
- Ohio: Animal lovers rally at Tameka Smith's court appearances. She's accused of abandoning her dog to starve and freeze to death whe she moved out of her house
- Ohio: Tameka Smith pleaded not guilty to leaving her dog to die; trial set
