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Teen Admits To Setting Turtle On Fire -- Twice

Clay Davenport

Clay Davenport

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(AP) Moorhead, Minn. An 18-year-old has pleaded guilty to animal cruelty for a videotaped incident in which he and two friends lit a turtle on fire and danced around it.

Joel Charles Ross of Hawley admitted they set the large snapping turtle on fire. He said they did it not once, but twice, and dressed up differently because they wanted to make their video "more funny and exciting."

"I put the gas on the turtle and made a trail, and one of my friends ignited it with a lighter," he said.

The video was posted online. Ross was arrested after a police officer received it in an e-mail.

Ross acknowledged in court Monday that he knew the act would be cruel and painful to to the animal.

Judge Michael Kirk will sentence Ross Sep. 18. He could face up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

But Ross's attorney doesn't expect the maximum because the two juveniles involved received community service.

Kirk also ordered a psychiatric evaluation for Ross after defense attorney Dennis Fisher said "it was too expensive for the family to do it on their own."

Fisher said the incident seemed to him to be a one-time event. "He has pets at home; he's had pets at home before," Fisher said. "None of those animals have ever been harmed."

Link
 
I agree, it is an unimaginable act of cruelty. I can't even imagine doing that to an animal, any animal.
What possible motivation would compel someone to do that and actually consider it humor?
 
Clay Davenport said:
I agree, it is an unimaginable act of cruelty. I can't even imagine doing that to an animal, any animal.
What possible motivation would compel someone to do that and actually consider it humor?
Click to expand...

Anybody want to take bets on how long before this bozo winds up in court for doing something equally :censored: up to a human being?
 
Teens Sentenced

You know I'm not one to write to some kid's parents because of what their children did but with these bozos I might make an exception. Check out the parent's comments at the end.

http://www.crookstontimes.com/articles/2006/09/19/news/22news4.txt


Teen who burned turtle for the world to see is sentenced
By The Associated Press
Published: Tuesday, September 19, 2006 12:18 PM CDT
E-mail this story | Print this page


MOORHEAD, Minn. (AP) - An 18-year-old was sentenced to jail and community service for his part in setting a snapping turtle on fire, an incident he and his friends videotaped and posted on the Internet.

Under the sentence handed down Monday, Joel Charles Ross, of Hawley, will have to serve at least five days in jail, perform at least 50 hours of community service, and pay a $500 fine that he can reduce by $400 with more community service. He would face more jail time and higher fines if he fails to comply with the terms of his probation.

Ross pleaded guilty last month to a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty for an incident that captured the attention of online viewers and animal rights activists worldwide.


In late May, Ross and two juveniles videotaped themselves dousing the large snapping turtle with gasoline, lighting it on fire twice, and dancing around it. They were discovered after someone sent police an e-mail with a link to the video.

The two juveniles involved received community service earlier.

''This was something that just got way out of control, said Dennis Fisher, Ross's attorney. Fisher asked Clay County District Judge Michael Kirk to impose fines and community service but not jail time, saying Ross and his family had suffered enough.



Ross told Kirk he felt bad for his actions and knew they were wrong. He said his family has been affected, including a brother serving in Iraq.

''He's upset and probably thinks a lot less of me right now,'' Ross said.

Ross also said he had planned to sign up for the National Guard to do military police work. ''Now I can't, because of this,'' he said.



Kirk said he wanted to see more empathy from Ross toward the animal.

In a letter published Tuesday in The Forum of Fargo, N.D., Ross's parents, Michael and Vicky Ross, said their son and his friends had been unfairly vilified by animal rights supporters.

''There is no pattern of cruelty with any of the three teens,'' they wrote. ''There is nothing to indicate that this is anything but an isolated incident and will not likely be repeated with animals, much less humans. ... We and the other parents involved love our sons far more than these people love their stupid turtles and we believe they will turn out just fine
Click to expand...
.''
 
The stupid turtles? I have serious doubts that the kids will turn out fine.....and it seems the parents didn't turn out okay either. If my kid did something like this I guarantee I would take this more seriously. I have no doubt now that the parents are completely responsible for their sons behavior.

Chris
 
perhaps they should be reminded that THEY DID THIS TWICE!!! The first time was bad enough...but to repeat the performance to make the video "MORE FUNNY & EXCITING" (including a costume change?!?!) definitely crosses a line, in my book.

the source, and the quote I really want to include here could be offensive to some, so I will shorten it: "WAKE UP, PEOPLE"
 
Now this is something that really upsets me, under no circumstances where if an animal transmitted billions of diseases or anything to me, I would not harm it, especially lighting it on fire, what the hell is wrong with people now adays? Geez, that kid is lucky that he doesn't live near me because if he did, I don't think he'd be physically able to even harm another thing in his entire life... I definitely agree that the parents are not taking this seriously enough. I'm speechless because of the fact that I am so outraged... :no01: :no01: :no01: :nonod: :nonod: :nonod: these kids better get a worse sentence than that... geez...
 
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