The animal cruelty charges landed Caraballo with a felony conviction, thanks only to the advocates and legislators who worked to pass Goddard’s Law. Under that law, Caraballo’s one-year sentence is the maximum punishment for, e.g., violently ending a puppy’s life or willfully not feeding it. The law, of course, is named for Fox 8 legend Dick Goddard, friend to your pets and mine.
Before that law was passed, animal cruelty was considered a misdemeanor in Ohio.
According to Goddard’s old station, Caraballo intends to appeal the sentence.
This article appears in Mar 1-7, 2017.
Thank you, Mr. Goddard.