Killer of cats gets 90 days
Man, 19, also admitted to making threats to his former girlfriend
PROVIDED
Joel Campbell, 19, of Summerville, admitted to slitting the throats of six kittens and smashing in the heads of two adult cats.
Previous stories
The Shock of their lives published 08/01/08
Student charged with animal cruelty published 10/12/07
MONCKS CORNER — He admitted to killing eight cats — slitting the throats of six kittens and bashing in the skulls of two adult felines.
During his court appearance on Wednesday, Joel Campbell also owned up to making threats against his ex-girlfriend.
The 19-year-old's plea in General Sessions Court left a judge with a crucial decision: Was this a young man who made bad decisions, as his attorney claimed? Or was he a dangerous person with the capacity of inflicting monstrous cruelty, as animal-rights activists and his former girlfriend's family maintained?
In the end the judge showed some leniency, handing down a sentence that means Campbell will be monitored for years to come but could be out of jail in as little as 90 days if he successfully completes the state's Shock Incarceration Program.
Goose Creek police arrested Campbell, a Summerville resident, in October 2007 after being called to Peace
Presbyterian Church on Londonderry Road. Four cats were dead inside a dumpster behind the church, while four others were barely alive. All were later euthanized.
In addition to eight counts of ill-treatment of animals, Campbell faced a harassment charge stemming from threatening telephone calls and profanity-laced e-mails directed at his ex-girlfriend, then 15.
Statements before sentencing generated two vastly different portraits.
Campbell's attorney, G.W. Parker, spoke of his above-average intelligence, his supportive family and his involvement at Ridge Baptist Church.
Jennifer Conlon, the ex-girlfriend's mother, enumerated the horrors her family had observed during nine months they knew Campbell: squirrels killed by the dozens, ducks driven over with a pickup, a cat killed with a shotgun.
Campbell told her family of years of abuse, a stark contrast from the loving family he described in court.
"That's not the person who was up there today," Conlon said. "His true character is going to come out again."
The defense attorney said the cats had been living in a neighbor's shed. Campbell agreed to get rid of them, but killed them instead of taking them to a shelter, he said.
"He made a poor decision," Parker said. "I don't believe it was done out of some deep-seated psychological need to inflict cruelty on animals."
Animal-welfare advocates called it one of the worst cases they have seen. Two gave statements in court.
After 52 days in jail, Campbell moved to his grandparents' home in Kingstree and devoted time to officiating youth sports.
After weighing both sides, Circuit Judge Markley Dennis imposed a sentence not to exceed five years in the state's Youthful Offender program on one ill-treatment charge. That included 90 days of boot-camp-style shock incarceration, followed by supervised monitoring.
On a second charge, Dennis handed down five more years of probation to take effect after the Youthful Offender program.
Campbell received credit for 30 days served on the harassment charge and credit for 180 days on the other ill-treatment counts.
Ninth Circuit Deputy Solicitor Bryan Alfaro prosecuted the case. Solicitor Scarlett Wilson said her office made no plea deal.
"This troubled young man intentionally committed horrific acts of animal abuse towards eight defenseless creatures," Wilson said in a statement.
Campbell's parents said he loved the outdoors and aspired to work for the state's Department of Natural Resources.
"We don't want to condone his actions," said his father, Joe Campbell, after court. "But we believe that Joel deserves a second chance."
Reach Noah Haglund at 937-5550 or nhaglund@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
BPFROM843 (anonymous) says...
now this guy is a serial killer in the making if micheal vick got 2 years for putting injured dogs out of their misery (which was totally out of line) then why can this guy be out in 90 days he should be in prison for at least 6 months pending psychiatric evaluations if I were to run into this guy I might put a beat down on him bein a cat lover myself
October 16, 2008 at 1:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
palmettotree (anonymous) says...
He needs mental help not years of probation. what is the bootcamp going to do it won't help him out one bit. He needs to see a counselor.
October 16, 2008 at 2:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blk_avenger (anonymous) says...
As long as he's white, it's allright.
October 16, 2008 at 3:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyecantspel (anonymous) says...
Pop Quiz
1. When asked why he dated a 15 year old girl, the young man said...
a. All I could get was a child that couldn't get dates from other childern her own age.
b. Mentally, Im 12.
c. I thought she was Jamie Lynn Hannah Montanna Spears
2. When asked why he killed the cats, he said:
a. "I knew I could get life if it were dogs, lets face it, they were just cats."
b. "The hair... the ******* hair was everywhere, my car, my clothes, every where"
c. "This should prove to her that I am a man"
d. "Really, there is not that much to do in Goose Creek"
e. "Underfunded schools didn't have the after school programs I needed after budget cuts, therefore, I was forced to leave school at the end of the school day, and the government was no longer in charge of my care. So, really, Republicans and taxpayers did this. The blood is on their hands"
3. When the young man's lawyer said "He made a poor decision", this is lawyer speak for:
a. The check didn't clear
b. "Im in a hurry, can we wrap this up"
c. "I will take any case, anytime"
d. (side note, no one likes lawyers and guns until they need one, then they want 2 of each and are glad to have them)
4. "Jennifer Conlon, the ex-girlfriend's mother, enumerated the horrors her family had observed during nine months they knew Campbell: squirrels killed by the dozens, ducks driven over with a pickup, a cat killed with a shotgun." This can best be described as :
a. NOW YOU TELL US THIS......
b. "Yes, you can use my real name so everyone will know who my daughter is, I would rather be in the paper than hide from the dozens of the PC readers that my daughter "dated" a cat killa.
c. "I stood by quietly because frankly I wanted her out of the house more and I really didn't think it was all that serious at the time, I thought everything would just work itself out like it does on the Limetime Movie Network"
5. "Ninth Circuit Deputy Solicitor Bryan Alfaro prosecuted the case. Solicitor Scarlett Wilson said her office made no plea deal" can best be translated into :
a. "its an election year, we can't go easy on cat killaz"
b. "90 days, I've given out lighter deals to _______ (make your own election ad)
c. "the law says this office should be filled by the voters, so instead of seriously needed mental help, we are going to put in him jail for 90 days. That should solve this problem for 90 days"
6. By using the term "monitored for years", this leads us to think:
a. they don't know where he is
b. "we will keep up with him like sex offenders, they never escape our top notch monitering system"
c. "It is critical he call us every year or so and tell us what he is doing, that way we know. If he doesn't and he gets stopped by a traffic cop, that cop will remind him to call the next chance he gets."
d. Bob Barker will be in charge of his spaying and neutering.
October 16, 2008 at 3:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kath21445 (anonymous) says...
I hope he will be very closely monitored and get intense psychological evaluation and counselling. Historically, serial killers have a history that starts with cruelty to animals and then progresses to humans.
October 16, 2008 at 4:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lemonhead (anonymous) says...
he should be locked up for a long time. the shock program is for people that arent on meds,seems this man needs a lot of meds,cats today,humans tomorrow when is the court system gonna get with the program
October 16, 2008 at 4:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WhoCares (anonymous) says...
Maybe this guy just don't like cats. You think??
October 16, 2008 at 5:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
proud2bme (anonymous) says...
blk_avenger = IDIOT!!
I can assure you we will read about this psychopath in the future.
October 16, 2008 at 6 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
No one starts abusing animals at age 19.
It is extremely probable that he has been doing this sort of thing for a long, long time. To a certain extent, a history of his ill treatment of animals previous to the cat abuse is corroborated by the ex-girlfriend's mother.
This is so clearly not a case of a mere "bad decision".
He had numerous chances after the 1st, 2nd & even 3rd "bad decision" to re-assess & figure out another way to "get rid of" the animals in his neighbor's shed.
This young man is chillingly disturbed. His abusive & cruel treatment of animals is one of the major hallmarks of future crimes of violence against another human.
***ONE act of the sort described above MIGHT be able to be rationalized as a poor decision, but the fact that after the 1st act of violence & cruelty he was not inhibited or sickened by what he had done, clearly indicates that he is pathologically disturbed.***
October 16, 2008 at 6:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
Jeffery Dalmer started this exact way. His family had better keep a close eye on him since the police and courts are ignoring the warning signs. Don't put him in Kingstree referring games!
October 16, 2008 at 6:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
follygirl (anonymous) says...
Moonpie, I totally thought basically the same thing. You always hear about serial killers having started with small animals, mistreated someone(s) and their family was great. I truly hope they at the very minimum monitor him for years to come. He should have to have mental health counseling also, although at this point if may not even help. I hope the 15yo received some professional help, you did nothing wrong.
October 16, 2008 at 6:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wonderdog (anonymous) says...
eyecantspel, well done!
This nut case wants to work for THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES??? That's like giving a child molester a job at a day care center.
When this poor excuse for a human is released, look out.
October 16, 2008 at 6:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
buckleylover1989 (anonymous) says...
I bet those cats wished they had a second chance.
October 16, 2008 at 6:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tmh32 (anonymous) says...
What a sick little gutless turd.
October 16, 2008 at 7:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ColdBud (anonymous) says...
I agree that we'll be reading about this guy again in the future. He does not need to be part if society. Innocent lives will be lost at his hands. He doesn't need counseling or boot camp. He needs to be removed rom the face of the Earth.
I also agree that blk_avenger is an idiot.
October 16, 2008 at 7:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
frankfurter (anonymous) says...
FOR ONE THING,THIS MIGHT NOT BE A BAD-BAD PERSON,BUT I THINK THAT BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION,IT SHOULD BE CAREFULLY LOOKED INTO.MAINLY-WHAT IF THIS REALLY MEANS SOMETHING & NO ONE CHECKED INTO IT??? I WOULD'NT TAKE THAT CHANCE...SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT HAH????
October 16, 2008 at 7:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
back2u (anonymous) says...
What part of "psycho" didn't these folks get? Take a good, long look in the boy's eyes. An observant person can see in a picture that he has a troubled, ill (mentally) soul lurking behind that face. And he was allowed to work with kids and sports? And then since he "loves" nature so much, he desires to work with DNR? uh - duh! I'm sitting here scratching my head knowing the M.O. on this boy is textbook psyhopath ... starting out with small animals because they're the easiest to control...then move on up to kids because they're the next easiest to manipulate & control before escalating to anyone & everyone. It's all very scary. Some might say it's a sign of the times. But there's been folks like him since the beginning of time.
blk_avenger: While I (as most people) respectfully don't agree with your comment, serial mental cases do seem to be mostly white. I'm not trying to sterotype here. However, most races DO have their share of classic anti-social M.O.'s. (ok, so I've watched a few too many documentaries.) The serial wacko's seem to be white males from middle class "functional" families. Young black males, who live in poverty, seem to not mind killing each other. Asian males, Hispanic males seem to ___(fill in the blank). It's all sad and troublesome, no matter what the race.
Godspeed!
October 16, 2008 at 7:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Slick50 (anonymous) says...
Yup, I want this fruitcake officiating youth sports.
October 16, 2008 at 7:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MP (anonymous) says...
Blk_avenger, society will never get past racism as long as there are idiots like you injecting race into everything. Must be a sad, warped, and angry world you live in.
October 16, 2008 at 7:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
I am curious as to why the State did not have psych & criminologist experts testifying on how significant, in terms of predicting future criminal acts of violence, this offender's behavior is.
The animal welfare violations are obvious, but this goes far, far beyond "animal rights".
The judge has done not one single person, including Campbell or his family, any favors or shown Campbell (undeserved) compassion & mercy by being lenient in this case.
Campbell already has demonstrated a pathological disregard for engaging in inhumane & cruel behavior & the relative casual treatment of his offenses will reinforce this aberrant mindset.
October 16, 2008 at 7:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ms_lady2u (anonymous) says...
Blk_avenger, is just calling it like he sees it! This maniac will kill again!!
October 16, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
I am a "white" person & I do not think what Campbell did was "alright" because of anything..least of all his race (please re-read my posts).
I believe the judge made a very bad call.
However, the Vick case was different in many aspects aside from the race of the offenders:
It was a federal case, Vick was high profile, Vick is over 21, Vick was charged with something a bit more serious than putting 2 dogs out of their misery & there were other related charges such as gambling & lying to the feds.
If we are going to truthfully recognize & eradicate discrepancy in treatment based on race alone we need to be comparing apples to apples. To do otherwise results in a "crying wolf" & diminishes the real cases of a wolf attack(racism).
October 16, 2008 at 8:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
"We should be proactive about mental health issues and not reactive to killers/murderers/rapists/molesters/etc."
Exactly why I question how hard the State pressed this case & why there does not appear, from the above article, that any criminal psych experts were called by the State.
It is all fine & good that 2 animal welfare experts testified, but as I said above-the significance of this is far greater than even the heinous behavior toward these animals.
October 16, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grannyofseven_2 (anonymous) says...
I am A lover of all animals. Cats are my favorite, I have 4 and I have six dogs. So what I am about to say will make some sense? THIS SORRY PIECE OF SCUM should be given the same treatment and put slowly to death. This person is one step away from doing the same to humans. May God forgive me but I hate this sorry excuse for a man
October 16, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
iceman1978 (anonymous) says...
Hopefully they'll take good care of him in prison.
October 16, 2008 at 9:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grannyofseven_2 (anonymous) says...
I just want to go home and hug my pets and make sure they are ok, after reading this. I have never put a mean hand to my babies, (pets) and those that do mistreat their pets should know all they want is love from you. And in return they will give all the love and loyalty they have right back to you. It breaks my heart to know people can do such mean things to poor helpless cats
October 16, 2008 at 9:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stephaniem (anonymous) says...
he sent threatening phone calls and emails to a 15yr old girl............
why isn't he charged with stalking and harassment and sending death threats. Is the female not worth anything?
he had better stay away from my pets and my neighbors cats.
October 16, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigcruiserg (anonymous) says...
why is it that this young white men kills harmless cats in such a brutal way and get such a light sentence but a young black men ( mr vick ) gets years in prison for dog fighting with dogs that are meant to fight. pitbulls are fighting dogs have been and always will be. there are not pets
October 16, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WhoCares (anonymous) says...
Look at his picture again... Is it my imagination, or do his eyes look like Lindsey Graham's eyes??
October 16, 2008 at 10:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lawrendm (anonymous) says...
Abitskeptical says it best and blk avinger - don't bring the race card in this, I too am white and this doesn't make this sociopath less quilty of brutally murdering defenseless animals. "after weighing both sides Judge Dennis imposed a sentence..." Weighing both sides of WHAT??? Shame on this Judge for such a lenient sentence. We will read about Summerville's Jeffrey Dahmer again after he serves this preposterous sentence.
October 16, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grannyofseven_2 (anonymous) says...
bigcruiserg, If you train any dog to fight they will. I have a pit bull/mastiff, and she thinks she is a lap dog. She is the second one of this kind I have had. It is how you raise it that makes it mean. I also have a Chihuahua that thinks he is a guard dog and would bit your hand if you come at him saying BATH my bad on that and if you say coju he will snarl at you again my bad. The training you give a dog is the way they turn out.
October 16, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
Well, bigcruise, in addition to what granny said, dog fighting happens to be illegal, regardless of the irrelevant rationalization(again re-read granny's post) that the dogs were meant to fight.
Also, re-read my 8:24 post.
I fully agree that Campbell was not treated as harshly as he deserves nor in a way in which society will be protected.
However, there are too many variables in the 2 cases, aside from race, to make the racism leap.
October 16, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kontact (anonymous) says...
Here in the south we sure have some odd pasttimes that people up north will never understand. Dog fighting, cock fighting, etc.. are a couple examples. Im not saying that we should turn a blind eye to dogfighting, nor am I condoning it, but it does have a history here in S.C. Now killing cats for no reason is outright wrong. Outright wrong!!Hate to go on my usual tirade but it called for: We lock up the drug dealers for forever and a day but we give the cat killer 90 days? WOW!! Once again not condoning crime but we do need reevaluation of sentencing laws.Make it fair please cause poor people cant afford the lawyers that Mr. Ravenell can for his drug case.
October 16, 2008 at 12:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MR_PRETTY (anonymous) says...
j
October 16, 2008 at 12:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Confuzzled (anonymous) says...
In regards to the comments about this young man's eyes, you know the old saying that 'your eyes are the windows to your soul'. Think about it ... When you are sad, happy, angry - you name it ... you can generally look into a person's eyes and know what they are feeling (or, perhaps, thinking).
October 16, 2008 at 12:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
katrenavantassle (anonymous) says...
Grannyofseven....LOL!!! at your chihuahua with the snarl at the sound of the word Cujo!!! I also am a granny of SIX and also a major animal lover. I have 5 dogs, and 1 cat. I also have a chihuahua (male who also thinks he is a rottweiler) and I have a Rottweiler who thinks he's a lapdog...a big lover. I have a female jackrussell/chihuahua mix who runs and hides when I say the word BATH...LOL!!!
Back to the story above....This is true that this person fits the criteria to become a serial killer but that dont make it so. I wonder why after 52 days in jail was he moved from his parents home to his grandparents? His own parents kicked him out?
October 16, 2008 at 12:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
katrenavantassle (anonymous) says...
What were his grades like? Is he mentally challenged?? Most Serial Killers are mainly exceptionally smart and that's how they cover up their crimes for so long.
October 16, 2008 at 12:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kontact (anonymous) says...
He looks like joe the plumber , average joe and joe six pack (wink wink) rolled into one big Alaskan punk. hahaha
October 16, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blk_avenger (anonymous) says...
Let me clarify for you all what I mean.
When the Michael Vick thing happened, he was seen as the worst person to ever walk the face of the earth for what he did. Everytime I got to the pet store with my dog,the little old white lady behind the counter talks down to me and makes sure she schools me on how to treat my dog.
After the Vick case there should be zero tolerance for ANYONE who mistreats an animal. I'm just tired of white people humanizing a white person who commits the same crime as a black person,but always claim "that doesn't seem like him". Michael Vick got 2 yrs for his crime, I don't care if it was high profile or not,the punishment should be consistent.
October 16, 2008 at 12:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blk_avenger (anonymous) says...
Where's PETA? I guess they only show up in high profile cases to increase their membership. They should have been here to make sure this piece of trash got the maximum sentence.
October 16, 2008 at 12:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
walleyedwoman1215 (anonymous) says...
LEOs are familiar with the "homicidal triad." The three criteria are: chronic bedwetting, fire-starting and cruelty to animals. Virtually every serial killer on record has exhibited two and often three of these traits. (Edmund Kemperer, Ted Bundy, William Hierens, Henry Lee Lucas, Peewee Gaskins, Jeffrey Dahmer, etc.)
I hope this kid has had every psychological test known to man, because if he will crush a cat's skull (imagine the scratching, the shrieks, the convulsions, the blood) he WILL strangle a toddler. That's not simply my opinion, that's the result of research conducted by two generations of criminal profilers.
October 16, 2008 at 1:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grannyofseven_2 (anonymous) says...
If I were the judge in both cases I would put them in a box with the animals the mistreated with the smell of food all over them and as hard as it would be it would be hungry animals I don't car if the person is black white rich poor if you harm ANY being that is helpless you should get the DEATH penalty
October 16, 2008 at 1:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
Well blk-avenger-I'm not sure what you mean by "white people humanizing a white criminal". Seems that most posters here, regardless of race, in addition to being repulsed by Campbell's behavior, are also upset & concerned that he received such a lenient sentence.
Further, & again, Vick was charged with other crimes aside from the dog-fighting. Also, the jurisdiction was different (federal & state).
I mentioned the high profile nature because often high profile defendants receive stiffer treatment &/or sentences than others (think Martha Stewart) because the prosecutors & judges like to send "messages", regardless of race. It is not fair, but it has happened to high profile white as well as high profile black defendants.
October 16, 2008 at 1:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
back2u (anonymous) says...
Someone in an earlier post questioned why the ex-girlfriend and/or her parents didn't press charges. They did. See the article:
"In addition to eight counts of ill-treatment of animals, Campbell faced a harassment charge stemming from threatening telephone calls and profanity-laced e-mails directed at his ex-girlfriend, then 15."
October 16, 2008 at 2:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
follyb (anonymous) says...
"Where's PETA? " I agree, WHERE is PETA??? If they spent half as much time on this case as they did putting the poor Monks out of egg production at Mepkin Abbey....maybe this young killer would have gotten a more realistic jail term and mental health treatment!
October 16, 2008 at 2:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Girleygirl (anonymous) says...
He look like a plastic doll sitting by a fireplace melting....man his skin is bad!
Anyway I do think we will see "Chucky" the serial killer again.
October 16, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hightide (anonymous) says...
90 days. What a shame to see such a lenient sentence for what was such an awful, psychotic case. As already mentioned, we'll see this freak again... and I feel for his future victim(s), be they furry or human.
October 16, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sweetestpea (anonymous) says...
I'm scared to see what this guy injures next since all he was given was a slap on the wrist. It takes an evil mind to purposely and horrificly destroy something so tiny and innocent.
October 16, 2008 at 4:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hightide (anonymous) says...
And another thing, if he was involved in the church mentioned in the article, they certainly didn't do a very good job educating him on the part about God creating all creatures and the golden rule, just to name a few.
October 16, 2008 at 4:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
Good Lord, hightide, what a leap of logic in your last post.
October 16, 2008 at 4:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sweetestpea (anonymous) says...
First of all Michael Vick got two years because he is a monster and a first class idiot! The dogs were injured and needed to "be put of their misery" because they had been fought. They had to put twenty of them down becuase they were in such bad shape or they were too aggressive. Personally i think they should have put Vick in a pen and sicked the dogs on him. Maybe his "buddies" would think it was funny to bet on that!
October 16, 2008 at 4:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
"First of all Michael Vick got two years because he is a monster and a first class idiot!"
So, this little turd should have gotten 10 times that because he killed these animals with his own grimy hands.
October 16, 2008 at 4:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hightide (anonymous) says...
being snarky, skeptical?
October 16, 2008 at 5:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
islandcaveman (anonymous) says...
nice job lawer parker and judge dennis - this trash will kill someone for sure
October 16, 2008 at 5:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
No, actually I was being serious.
The BTK killer was a pillar of his church community,so do you think that is because his church didn't teach & preach "good enough" about "thou shall not rape & murder"?
Pathological & twisted people can hear all day long about what is right & wrong, but for whatever reason it does not get internalized.
The message & the messenger can be better than OK, but if something is wrong with the receiver...well, so much for the message.
October 16, 2008 at 5:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
VictoriaCat (anonymous) says...
Seriously, he needs mental help. You can tell by looking at him, tell me- now that his picture is in the paper is he still going to be allowed officiating children's sports. Scary guy. Note - no remorse over the cats at all.
October 16, 2008 at 6:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hightide (anonymous) says...
I just thought it was "funny" that the psycho's attorney pointed out his involvement in the church. It's obvious the message went in one ear and out the other - if it even made into the first ear at all.
If I were the parent of a kid on any of the sports teams being officiated by this killer, I'd be protesting.
October 16, 2008 at 6:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bunting (anonymous) says...
This is not the last time this guy will be in the news. Sooner, not later, we will be asking "why?" And I am certain the judge will be "unavailable for comment."
October 16, 2008 at 7:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
YankeeLady (anonymous) says...
Any "tradition", Southern or otherwise, that permits the cruel exploitation and torment of animals, is nothing to be proud of as one's culture. Dog- and cock-fighting are entertainment only for the consciousless brain-dead. This kid should be turned out into a pen of really big kitties that could play with him a while before they slit his throat.
October 16, 2008 at 7:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
Oh, sorry hightide...I do see what you are saying & agree that bringing up the church involvement...is, well, it almost makes it worse. I thought you were slamming the church for his behavior, or rather for not stopping it.
October 16, 2008 at 7:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
noname (anonymous) says...
I agree with follyb: where the hell is PETA when you need them????????????
Dress it up all you want folks, make all the excuses you want, but the fact remains:
Vick killed dogs, this sicko killed cats.
It's the same darn thing!!!
October 16, 2008 at 8:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dianed43 (anonymous) says...
my son received 8 years for burglary.....never would have physically hurt a living creature. could be out in 90 days, i hope this judge does not have the blood of others on his hands in the future. this individual is sick to do this to these innocent animals. he killed them in a horrible way and he knew what he was doing ( HE HURT THEM IN MORE THEN ONE INCIDENCE )....a 2nd chance, i don't think so. this story turns my stomach.
October 16, 2008 at 9:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
southerngirl45 (anonymous) says...
90 DAYS!!!OH MY GOD! What a MONSTER!!!!I"m sorry parents but your son is a monster.He has a smerk on his face like he is proud of what he has done!"Squirels killed by the dozens,Ducks driven over by a pickup truck,and a cat killed by a shotgun. The girls parents should thank their lucky stars or maybe God that their daughter got away from this monster.That judge should be thrown in jail himself. This is unbelievable! This dude has some serious issues and DAD thinks he needs a second chance??????????????????????
October 16, 2008 at 9:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
I, for one, agree that Campbell should have gotten a much stiffer sentence-one that matches or surpasses what Vick got.
There is unfairness & too much discrepancy in sentencing of similar crimes all over this country. The reasons for this are varied & certainly do not always reflect racism by the mere fact that 2 similar cases involved defendants of 2 different races.
I guess my point is that "unequal justice" occurs everyday in this country & very often the comparison is between 2 people of the same race. There are other factors aside from race which influence the rate of unequal justice & "injustice" for all in this country.
October 16, 2008 at 10:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
give_it_a_rest (anonymous) says...
Puppy cruelty case nets jail time
Man to serve 3 years for throwing dog off balcony
By Schuyler Kropf (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Friday, October 26, 2007
Man to serve 3 years for animal cruelty
A man who tossed a 10-week-old puppy off a third-story balcony during an argument with his girlfriend was sentenced to three years in prison Thursday by a judge who said he wanted to "send a message."
Javon Patrick Morris pleaded guilty to animal cruelty after throwing the animal off a North Charleston apartment balcony in March.
The animal, a Yorkiepoo, was in a soft-sided container. It suffered severe head trauma, among other injuries, and had to be euthanized.
Morris, 22, said he was sorry before his sentencing in the Charleston County Courthouse. But Circuit Judge Edward Cottingham, who's owned nine dogs, seemed taken aback by the severity of the crime.
"You mean he threw a helpless animal off three floors because he was mad at someone?" Cottingham asked 9th Circuit Assistant Solicitor Stephanie Bianco.
The judge went on to say there was no excuse for such cruelty. "There is nobody in this world that can understand that," he said.
Cottingham sentenced Morris to the maximum five years, then suspended it down to three years of prison time with two years of probation and a requirement for Morris to seek anger-management treatment. He is eligible for parole in about 20 months.
Outside the courtroom, animal-welfare advocates said the sentence was one of the toughest felony sentences involving a pet cruelty case seen in a local courtroom.
"He was a bad egg in the community and needed to be removed," said Charles Karesh of the John Ancrum SPCA.
"It's a proud day," added Carol Linville of Pet Helpers.
At the time of the sentencing, Morris, a graduate of Fort Dorchester High School, had been in the Charleston County Detention Center for 93 days for failing to appear for an earlier court hearing. He has an 2004 conviction for assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. The girlfriend did not want to appear in court.
October 16, 2008 at 10:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
give_it_a_rest (anonymous) says...
I don't agree with any animal cruelty, but throwing one puppy off of a apartment balcony and slashing 6 kittens throats and bashing 2 skulls in.His sentence should of been much harsher.He should of been sentenced to the maximum penalty at the least.
October 16, 2008 at 10:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kontact (anonymous) says...
Anybody here wonder what color JAVON is???? WOW!!
October 16, 2008 at 10:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
southerngirl45 (anonymous) says...
kontact~color is not the issue here. The difference is the JUDGES! There are good judges and bad judges.Cottingham is a good judge.
October 16, 2008 at 10:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
smalltownrumor (anonymous) says...
Too bad this judge didn't read the history of another "highly intelligent, quiet, gentle young man by the name of Jeffrey Dahmer. Also, too bad for his next victim who will, no doubt, not be of the feline persuasion. What's that about folks who fail to learn from history?
October 17, 2008 at 12:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MP (anonymous) says...
blk_avenger- What Michael Vick did was for just for sport and it continued over a long period of time. That is why he got two years. This sicko did it on one occasion and did it decause of anger. Both were inexcusable. You totally ignore the facts when you make an invalid comparison just to claim racism when none exists. If it were the same judge, the same crime, different sentences, then maybe you would be on to something.
October 17, 2008 at 8 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sc4peace (anonymous) says...
He is a serial killer in the making- no doubt about it....if you can hurt an innocent little animal- you can easily hurt a human being- lock him up in prison for life- either that or fry him because he doesn't deserve to see daylight ever again! If anyone gets killed by him after his release- the judge should be thrown in for negligance- this really pisses me off- such a small value placed on life..its bullshi*
October 17, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dhshjh (anonymous) says...
bigcruiserg
NO DOGS ARE MEANT TO FIGHT. PEOPLE TEACH THEM THAT. YOU MUST BE AND ANIMAL LOVER ALSO IF YOU WOULD HAVE THEM FIGHT EACH OTHER. (RIGHT). MY NIECE HAS 2 PIT BULLS THAT ARE BIGGER BABIES THAN MY SONS LAB. THEY LOVE PEOPLE, IT IS NOT IN THEIR NATURE TO FIGHT. THAT'S PEOPLE. THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH A PIT BULL THEN ANY OTHER DOG IS IT CAN LOCK IT'S JAWS WHEN IT DOES BITE AND SINCE YOU AGREE WITH FIGHTING DOGS MAYBE YOU SHOULD GET TO FEEL IT.
October 17, 2008 at 3:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hardog240 (anonymous) says...
This Judge Dennis is such a joke please call his office and tell him what a disgrace this sentence was.No doubt this maniac will kill more animals and eventually some poor human being will get killed by his hands as well.The judges office is 843-719-4435.Lets call and voice our frustration..Thank you..
October 17, 2008 at 5:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jcheetham58 (anonymous) says...
THIS SENTENCE WAS A SLAP IN THE FACE TO ALL ANIMALS. I GUESS THE JUSTICE SYSTEM NEEDS A MAJOR OVERHAUL BEGINNING WITH SOME OF THESE JUDGES THAT DON'T HAVE STIFFER SENTENCES FOR PEOPLE LIKE THIS, YOU CAN BET THERE WILL BE MORE CASES LIKE THIS AND THEY WILL GET LIGHT SENTENCES ALSO. THANKS JUSTICE SYSTEM VERY MUCH! TO JOEL GOD MIGHT FORGIVE YOU BUT I AND THESE BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS WON'T!
October 17, 2008 at 11:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Hott_Temper (anonymous) says...
This kid is a menace to society. To humans and animals alike, he is a predator. Judge Dennis is a fn idiot for not seeing this. What was he thinking?
Campbell told her family of years of abuse, a stark contrast from the loving family he described in court.
"That's not the person who was up there today," Conlon said. "His true character is going to come out again."
When this kids true character comes out it will not be a dog or cat the next time, it will be something worse or even someone.
All of you keep referring to Michael Vick, whom by the way didn't get enough time in jail. I wrote letters to the NFL and signed numerous petitions against him, and I am also a member of several animal rights groups, so I know whats going on with these types of things at all times.
But do any of you know what the great Brett Favre, who is white, pulled a few weeks ago? If not I will fill you in..
10-08-08
Retired/unretired/whatever NFL quarterback Brett Favre isn't just killing his team with big-game interceptions anymore! Now he's moved on to killing animals for fun in a pathetic attempt at a locker room "prank." According to the New York Times, Favre, who is "notorious for shenanigans involving lockers," is reported to have "shot (presumably), bagged and dumped" a dead animal, probably a wild turkey, in a teammate's locker "inside a bag that was filled with blood and guts."
Blood? Guts? HILARIOUS! What do you think he follows this one up with-the old "kitten in the microwave" gag? That one's a real knee-slapper too. I hate to be the one to tell you this, Brett, but people who think dead animals are funny don't typically end up in the Hall Of Fame-sometimes, they end up in custody.
There is, of course, nothing even remotely "sporting" about hunting. Imagine a game of football in which one team has pads, cleats, helmets, set plays, offensive and defensive coordinators-the whole nine yards (zing!), and meanwhile the other team is running around naked and unprepared (no, no, not the Lions). That's about as "competitive" as hunting deer with high-tech camouflage and a sniper rifle.
Some people call guys like Favre who use military-grade weaponry to kill defenseless animals "sportsmen." You know what I call them?
Cowards
Posted by Dan Shannon
Now, while I don't condone any kind of killing, I just want to prove that white and black high profile persons do things which are not right. I think they should have delved a little deeper into this to find out exactly what happened and what was in the bag. These type of jokes cannot continue.
I don't have a racist bone in my body, but if you commit the crime you should do the time. No matter what the color of your skin is.
~Peace out
October 19, 2008 at 1:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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