Prosecutors reported that a 47-year-old man who is suspected of animal abuse was arraigned in Stockton on Thursday.
Maurice Cosby Smith, a Stockton resident, was taken into custody at his house on Tuesday on charges of shooting his dog while it was in a cage using a BB pistol.
After the dog was taken into custody, the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office reports that the veterinarian found eleven bullet casings in the canine during surgery.
Smith was charged with one crime of being a felon in possession of a firearm, one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition, three charges of torturing or causing gratuitous cruelty to an animal, and three counts of malicious and intentional cruelty to animals.
According to the prosecution, Smith’s case was taken under investigation on June 28 following a witness’s complaint that the guy had shot his own dog with a BB pistol.
According to the witness, between June 21 and June 28, three different days saw the shootings take place. Prosecutors claimed that the witness recorded videos of the alleged abuse.
According to police, they first became aware of certain videos on social media on June 28. These films purportedly showed Smith shooting a BB pistol at a dog that was in a cage in the 2600 block of Bristol Avenue.
Read Also: Charges Laid: Farmville Man Accused of Locking Dog in Burning House
When police arrived on the scene that day, they were informed by the locals that the dog had been taken away since they could not find it. The next day, a second search for the animal produced no luck either. On either visit, no evidence of animal abuse was discovered, according to authorities.
Police reported on Tuesday that the dog had been found and that its injuries seemed to be consistent with having been shot.
The dog will be placed in a new home by a shelter after it heals.
Smith was allegedly discovered to be in possession of two magazines of ammo and a Glock 17 handgun at the time of his arrest.
Because of a 2005 felony conviction for possession of a controlled drug for sale, Smith is not permitted to possess these products. He will be arraigned again in Stockton on August 16.
