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Brown sentenced to 18 months for dog abuse

Patricio Robayo - Staff Writer
Posted 2/23/18

SOUTH FALLSBURG — Sentencing came down on Wednesday in a packed courtroom for Rahiem Brown of Woodbourne who was found guilty in November for torturing, abandonment and not providing sustenance for …

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Brown sentenced to 18 months for dog abuse

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SOUTH FALLSBURG — Sentencing came down on Wednesday in a packed courtroom for Rahiem Brown of Woodbourne who was found guilty in November for torturing, abandonment and not providing sustenance for his two-year-old rottweiler and resisting arrest.

Presiding Town Judge Amanda Ward sentenced Brown to 18 months in the Sullivan County Jail, one year for each count of abuse and abandonment to be served concurrently and six months for resisting arrest to be served consecutively totaling 18 months at the county jail.

According to Sullivan County Assistant District Attorney Richard Caister Jr., the dog was found weighing around 42 pounds where a dog of that size and age should way around 65-70 pounds. The dog was also found with excessive burns and infections when it was found running loose in Woodbourne in 2016.

Additionally, Brown is required to register as an animal offender under the new “Dean's Law” which is named after the dog's new name and owners. The local law which was passed in 2016 by the Sullivan County Legislature was in response to this animal abuse case.

The new law requires anyone who is convicted of animal abuse in Sullivan County to register with the Sheriff's Office and they will remain on the list for seven years, preventing that person from owning an animal for that time.

“I am sorry, I feel remorse and feel responsible for what happened, I loved that dog,” said Brown at the sentencing.

Brown throughout the trial and sentencing stood fast that he was innocent and never would have done this to the dog.

“This was a ‘Machiavellian' plot against my client,” said Brown's Defense Attorney William Brenner who took the case on pro-bono after Brown was found guilty in November. “I wanted him to get his day in court and have him say for himself what happened, that was my promise.”

Brown stated that the dog was burnt by accident with bacon grease and when he went to take the dog for a walk it had gotten loose and ran away. Photos soon spread around of the dog stuffed inside of a Home Depot bucket with cut out holes for the dogs feet.

Brown said the makeshift cone was made so the dog wouldn't lick his wounds from an apparent scratch from a cage which Brown kept the dog in. The reason Brown gave for this makeshift cone was he had no money to afford a vet and this was his best option.

Brown's been in jail since he was found guilty in November due to not having enough money to make bail.

“This arrest has left my client destitute,” said Brenner. “Soon after he was arrested the first time, they cleaned out his refrigerator and apartment. They were plotting against him.”

Brenner claimed they wanted Brown out of the way to steal his electronics and his possessions. According to Brenner, those plotting against Brown apparently kidnapped the dog and were the ones who abused the dog in order to pin the crime on Brown.

Brown is required to submit his DNA to the Sheriff's Office which carries a $50 cost and must also register with the Sheriff's Office as an animal abuser under “Dean's Law,” which also carries a $50 fee that Brown is required to pay within 10 days.

Brenner asked Judge Ward to waive the fees because his client cannot afford to pay them. Judge Ward will consider the waiver if the proper paperwork is submitted within 10 days.

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