FREEHOLD – An Asbury Park man was sentenced to probation and community service after he pleaded guilty in May to animal cruelty and hindering, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Andre Parker, 34, of Asbury Park, was sentenced by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Vincent N. Falcetano, Jr. today. Consistent with the plea agreement, the State urged the court to sentence Parker to 364 days in jail as a condition of probation, but Judge Falcetano imposed the non-custodial sentence. Judge Falcetano further ordered Parker to obtain his high-school equivalency diploma, maintain full-time employment, undergo a substance abuse evaluation and also barred him from obtaining any new animals in the future, but said after five years, he can apply to the court to have that order lifted.
A joint investigation by the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MCSPCA) under the auspices of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Asbury Park and Neptune Township police departments revealed that in January and February 2017, Parker caused bodily injury to his dog, a pit bull mix known as Destiny, by failing to provide the dog with necessary care.
An anonymous tip led MCSPCA investigators to question Parker about allegations of abuse. Parker secretly removed the dog from his Asbury Park residence and left her with his co-defendant Tara Robinson in Ocean Grove. Parker then lied to investigators, telling them he did not have any knowledge of an injured dog. The dog was located two days later at Robinson’s home after another tip led Neptune Township police to investigate. Destiny was found malnourished and had several untreated and infected wounds. After a hospital stay, she made a full recovery and was adopted and placed into her forever home with an SPCA-approved family.
The case was prosecuted by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Joshua D. Detzky.
Parker is represented by Paul E. Zager of Red Bank.
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