BRONX DA: ANYTHING BUT GENTLE — Conviction in Beating Death of Puppy

ANYTHING BUT GENTLE

Dwayne Gentles Convicted in Beating Death of Puppy

(Bronx, NY – July 31, 2015) – Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson announces a Supreme Court jury’s verdict of guilty in the December 2012 beating death of a 4-month-old puppy in the Soundview section of the Bronx.

                After a four-week-long trial and just 15 minutes of deliberation, the jury found 29-year-old DWAYNE GENTLES guilty of a single count of:

                Overdriving, Torturing and Injuring Animals; Failure to Provide Proper Sustenance, a Class-A Misdemeanor (Agriculture & Markets Law 353)

Following today’s verdict, DWAYNE GENTLES was remanded to jail.  When he is sentenced on August 13th by Supreme Court Justice Miriam Best, GENTLES faces up to a year behind bars.

Puppies are supposed to live a happy-go-lucky existence, learning about the world.  All Brandy learned was that people can be cruel.  During trial, witnesses testified to hearing the little pit bull’s endless whimpers at 456 Commonwealth Avenue, the building GENTLES shared with several members of his family.  But by four days before Christmas, the dog could not walk, and she was barely conscious.                GENTLES brought Brandy to one vet and then, to a veterinary E.R., where doctors advised she be humanely euthanized.

The case was reported to the ASPCA, whose forensic veterinarian, Dr. Robert Reisman, testified that Brandy had suffered injuries both fresh and weeks, if not months, old – 13 broken ribs in varying stages of healing, two broken femurs, one of which was fractured in two places, broken teeth and a jaw fracture that prevented the dog from eating.  The animal was emaciated and flea-ridden, and had internal injuries as well, found to be from blunt force trauma.  Before her euthanization, two veterinarians also observed severe neurological trauma.

District Attorney Johnson also wishes to thank the ASPCA’s former Humane Law Enforcement Division for its help, as well as veterinarians from Banfield Pet Hospital and Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners.

                The case against DWAYNE GENTLES was prosecuted by Assistant D.A.s Tama Monoson and Kelli Untiedt of the Bronx D.A. Arson/Auto/Economic Crime Bureau.