Fong enters guilty plea in exchange for deal
GREENE – The Brooklyn man from whom 76 Pomeranians were seized in October will get three years probation and pay $5,000 in restitution to the Chenango County SPCA as a result of a plea agreement reached between his legal counsel and the District Attorney’s office.
Yesterday in the Town of Greene Court, Steven W. Fong, 57, entered a plea of guilty to one count of animal cruelty before Judge Dante Acunto, “in full satisfaction” of the charges against him pursuant to that agreement.
According to Acunto, the deal includes the provision that Fong may own one dog “pending approval of (his) probation officer.”
“I think it was a good resolution for the community and a good resolution for the defendant,” said District Attorney Joe McBride following the hearing.
During the proceeding, Acunto also vacated the Jan. 9 ruling in which he attempted to overturn the Oct. 28 order of Oxford Town Justice John Weidman which caused Fong to forfeit ownership of the dogs as a result of a civil petition filed by the SPCA.
Now that Weidman’s order is restored, Fong’s attorney, Scott Clippinger, said his client can move forward with an appeal if he chooses to do so.
“There is justice and injustice to go around,” said Clippinger regarding the plea agreement. Fong, he said, had originally wanted to fight the charges, but in the end had agreed it was in his best interest to accept the deal. The case was set to go to a jury trial this month.
Fong will return to the Greene court once more in July for sentencing. Until that time he remains free on the $8,000 bail he posted after his Oct. 12 arrest.
Attorney Michael Ferrarese, who represents the SPCA on a pro bono basis, said the organization is “relieved that the case has finally reached its resolution in the criminal realm.”
“We are glad we will be getting some of the money we expended back from the defendant,” Ferrarese added, thanking the Chenango County Sheriff’s Department, Sgt. Tim Urnaitis and Deputy Debra Ives, for their work on the case.
“I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of the District Attorney’s office, namely Joe McBride and Steve Dunshee, for making sure this case got the attention it deserved and seeing it through to a just conclusion,” Ferrarese said.Do
Yesterday in the Town of Greene Court, Steven W. Fong, 57, entered a plea of guilty to one count of animal cruelty before Judge Dante Acunto, “in full satisfaction” of the charges against him pursuant to that agreement.
According to Acunto, the deal includes the provision that Fong may own one dog “pending approval of (his) probation officer.”
“I think it was a good resolution for the community and a good resolution for the defendant,” said District Attorney Joe McBride following the hearing.
During the proceeding, Acunto also vacated the Jan. 9 ruling in which he attempted to overturn the Oct. 28 order of Oxford Town Justice John Weidman which caused Fong to forfeit ownership of the dogs as a result of a civil petition filed by the SPCA.
Now that Weidman’s order is restored, Fong’s attorney, Scott Clippinger, said his client can move forward with an appeal if he chooses to do so.
“There is justice and injustice to go around,” said Clippinger regarding the plea agreement. Fong, he said, had originally wanted to fight the charges, but in the end had agreed it was in his best interest to accept the deal. The case was set to go to a jury trial this month.
Fong will return to the Greene court once more in July for sentencing. Until that time he remains free on the $8,000 bail he posted after his Oct. 12 arrest.
Attorney Michael Ferrarese, who represents the SPCA on a pro bono basis, said the organization is “relieved that the case has finally reached its resolution in the criminal realm.”
“We are glad we will be getting some of the money we expended back from the defendant,” Ferrarese added, thanking the Chenango County Sheriff’s Department, Sgt. Tim Urnaitis and Deputy Debra Ives, for their work on the case.
“I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of the District Attorney’s office, namely Joe McBride and Steve Dunshee, for making sure this case got the attention it deserved and seeing it through to a just conclusion,” Ferrarese said.Do
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