Justice for Shadow and Poppy

Dear Prosecutor Kelaher:

Ronald Fredericks was arrested today and charged with eight counts of Animal Cruelty. Mr. Fredericks has admitted to pouring WD-40 motor oil on the heads of two young dogs, Shadow and Poppy. He then lit them on fire. This heinous act occurred on March 30, 2004; Shadow and Poppy survived this horrific attack but were not rescued until today. One can only imagine the severe pain and fear Shadow and Poppy have endured at the hands of Ronald Fredericks.

Unfortunately, Mr. Fredericks is not currently incarcercated, having posted $5,000.00 bail. As the chief law enforcement officer in Ocean County, it is now your responsibility and moral obligation to direct your staff to prosecute Ronald Fredericks to the fullest extent of the law for his brutal crimes. As you are well aware, severe forms of animal cruelty, including the torture of an animal, is a fourth-degree crime punishable by large fines and, more importantly, imprisonment for up to 18 months. Moreover, if Mr. Fredericks is a repeat offender, he can and should be charged with third-degree animal cruelty, for which the punishment is up to five years imprisonment and a $15,000.00 fine.

We, the undersigned, urge you to present the charges against Ronald Fredericks to the Grand Jury for indictment rather than remanding them to municipal court and, in the course of prosecuting the case, insist on the maximum amount of imprisonment for Ronald Fredericks. Likewise, we ask that you not accept any plea bargain that does not include a guilty plea for each of the eight counts of animal cruelty and/or does not provide for imprisonment as punishment. On behalf of Shadow and Poppy, we must insist that they not be returned to Ronald Fredericks, and we ask that Mr. Fredericks be banned from ever again owning animals.

Shadow and Poppy could not defend themselves against Ronald Fredericks, nor can they now seek justice. A civilized society can not allow such brutality to go unpunished. Thus, please do all in your power to ensure that Ronald Fredericks is prosecuted and sentenced to the maximum terms allowed by law.