Not guilty plea for man accused of abusing 18 German Shepherds
PORT ORCHARD - Prosecutors call the abuse and neglect of 18 German Shepherds a clear case of animal cruelty. The accused Kitsap County man's friend says it's just a "witch hunt."
Gerald Ebel has dodged cameras ever since police raided his Port Orchard home in January, confiscating 18 German Shephard's -- puppies and adults that police say Ebel neglected and starved.
Animal Control Officer Rance McIntyre still remembers the tough decision to "put down" two adults, Tiger and Cindy, who just couldn't make it.
"When they can't walk and are in an emaciated state, there's nothing else to do for them at that time," McIntyre said.
Ebel pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor animal cruelty charge. He says prosecutors got everything wrong, but refused to elaborate to the media.
Prosecutors only charged Ebel with a misdemeanor, not the felony animal cruelty charge officers hoped to get.
"The investigation, the facts that we have, and the elements that we have, we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt animal cruelty in the second degree at this point," said prosecuting attorney Claire Bradley.
If convicted, Ebel faces a maximum 90 days in jail. For McIntrye, that's not justice.
"He gets to walk away, the animals had to go to jail as some would call it," he said.
Ebel walked out of court Thursday, but when he walks into his house, there will be no animals there. The court has ordered he has no animals until, at least, this case is resolved.
Gerald Ebel has dodged cameras ever since police raided his Port Orchard home in January, confiscating 18 German Shephard's -- puppies and adults that police say Ebel neglected and starved.
Animal Control Officer Rance McIntyre still remembers the tough decision to "put down" two adults, Tiger and Cindy, who just couldn't make it.
"When they can't walk and are in an emaciated state, there's nothing else to do for them at that time," McIntyre said.
Ebel pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor animal cruelty charge. He says prosecutors got everything wrong, but refused to elaborate to the media.
Prosecutors only charged Ebel with a misdemeanor, not the felony animal cruelty charge officers hoped to get.
"The investigation, the facts that we have, and the elements that we have, we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt animal cruelty in the second degree at this point," said prosecuting attorney Claire Bradley.
If convicted, Ebel faces a maximum 90 days in jail. For McIntrye, that's not justice.
"He gets to walk away, the animals had to go to jail as some would call it," he said.
Ebel walked out of court Thursday, but when he walks into his house, there will be no animals there. The court has ordered he has no animals until, at least, this case is resolved.