The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office has announced criminal charges
against an Asbury Park man accused of killing one of his girlfriend’s toy
poodles and abandoning the other.
Authorities say Nicholas C. Winter, 35, has been charged with
third-degree animal cruelty resulting in death and abandoning a domestic
animal, a disorderly person’s offense.
Police say they responded
to a residence on Locust Drive June 4 shortly before 4 a.m. and located the
deceased dog, a 12-year-old male named “Bentley.” The victim’s other dog, a
14-year-old female named “Sophia,” was reported missing but found in the area
several hours later.
According to prosecutors, an investigation
determined that following an argument, Winter repeatedly texted his girlfriend
threatening the welfare of her dogs while she was at work. A necropsy later
performed on Bentley determined that the dog had died due to blunt-force
trauma.
Winter was arrested and charged Tuesday pending a detention
hearing to take place in Monmouth County Superior Court. If convicted on the
more serious charge against him, he would face up to five years in state
prison.