May 12, 2008 The Honorable Andrew P. Thomas
Maricopa County Attorney
301 W. Jefferson, Ste. 800
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Dear Mr. Thomas:
PETA is the world's largest animal rights organization, with more than 1.8 million members and supporters dedicated to animal protection. This letter pertains to Earl Simmons, 37, also known as DMX, who has been indicted on seven cruelty-to-animals charges and four felony drug possession charges. The indictment reportedly stems from officials' August discovery of 12 neglected, malnourished, and scarred pit bulls on the suspect's Cave Creek property, north of Phoenix. Also said to have been found by authorities were three dogs who had been buried on the property in question. According to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, one of these unfortunate dogs may have been burned. This is not the aging rapper's first brush with officials regarding his alleged mistreatment of animals. In 2002, authorities discovered 13 caged and apparently neglected pit bulls on Simmons' property in Teaneck, N.J.; Simmons pleaded guilty to cruelty-to-animals charges and was fined and placed on probation.
Mental health professionals and top law enforcement officials consider cruelty to animals to be a red flag. The American Psychiatric Association identifies cruelty to animals as one of the diagnostic criteria for conduct disorders, and the FBI uses reports of these crimes in analyzing the threat potential of suspected and known criminals. Experts agree that it is the severity of the behavior—not the species of the victim—that matters.
On behalf of our members and supporters in Arizona, we respectfully urge your office to prosecute Simmons to the fullest extent of the law. Because—as Simmons' alleged conduct may well demonstrate—repeat crimes are the rule rather than the exception among animal abusers, we implore your office to take every measure necessary to ensure that Simmons, if convicted, is barred from owning or harboring animals for as long as possible. We ask also that if convicted, he serve a meaningful period of incarceration and be required to undergo a thorough psychological evaluation followed by mandatory counseling at his own expense—the safety of the community may depend on it. Thank you in advance for your diligence in this matter and for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Peter Wood,
Dear Mr. Thomas:
PETA is the world's largest animal rights organization, with more than 1.8 million members and supporters dedicated to animal protection. This letter pertains to Earl Simmons, 37, also known as DMX, who has been indicted on seven cruelty-to-animals charges and four felony drug possession charges. The indictment reportedly stems from officials' August discovery of 12 neglected, malnourished, and scarred pit bulls on the suspect's Cave Creek property, north of Phoenix. Also said to have been found by authorities were three dogs who had been buried on the property in question. According to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, one of these unfortunate dogs may have been burned. This is not the aging rapper's first brush with officials regarding his alleged mistreatment of animals. In 2002, authorities discovered 13 caged and apparently neglected pit bulls on Simmons' property in Teaneck, N.J.; Simmons pleaded guilty to cruelty-to-animals charges and was fined and placed on probation.
Mental health professionals and top law enforcement officials consider cruelty to animals to be a red flag. The American Psychiatric Association identifies cruelty to animals as one of the diagnostic criteria for conduct disorders, and the FBI uses reports of these crimes in analyzing the threat potential of suspected and known criminals. Experts agree that it is the severity of the behavior—not the species of the victim—that matters.
On behalf of our members and supporters in Arizona, we respectfully urge your office to prosecute Simmons to the fullest extent of the law. Because—as Simmons' alleged conduct may well demonstrate—repeat crimes are the rule rather than the exception among animal abusers, we implore your office to take every measure necessary to ensure that Simmons, if convicted, is barred from owning or harboring animals for as long as possible. We ask also that if convicted, he serve a meaningful period of incarceration and be required to undergo a thorough psychological evaluation followed by mandatory counseling at his own expense—the safety of the community may depend on it. Thank you in advance for your diligence in this matter and for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Peter Wood,
Cruelty Caseworker Emergency Response Team Cruelty Investigations Department
1 comment:
Dang. Crack is a very bad thing.
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