DAILY NEWS (Ludington, Michigan) 26 September 06 Sentence delivered in alligator beating (Joe Boomgaard)
A man who attempted to kill a 4-foot 4-inch alligator he had been keeping as a pet and then left the reptile near a Ludington park was sentenced today in 79th District Court.
Brian Scott DeRooy, 37, 1766 N. Ridge Road, of Ludington, pleaded guilty to a charge of animal cruelty after the June 8 incident in which he dumped the animal he thought was dead behind the Mason County Services building near Peter Copeyon Park. He was ordered to perform 30 hours of community service through community corrections and to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. He may spend 60 days in jail at the discretion of the court.
If the psychiatric evaluation finds he has no significant area of concern or problem, DeRooy can have his dogs returned.
He has 21 days to appeal the sentence.
DeRooy said he attempted to dispatch the animal and didn’t mean to maim it.
“I put a hatchet in the back of the head of the alligator,” DeRooy told Judge Peter Wadel. “I was watching it for some people and was moving and couldn’t take it with me. At the time I thought it was the right thing to do. Now I realize it wasn’t.”
“I think we probably have a method you attempted to exercise here, using a hatchet, that can hardly be within the range of quick and merciful in terms of dispatching an animal,” Wadel said.
Defending attorney Bob Shrauger said it was “a close case” and that his client was a “good person who loves animals.”
“He learned at the time a part of the law most people weren’t aware of,” Shrauger said.
Wadel said the case was likely tied to the method DeRooy chose to kill the animal.
“I believe the prosecution brought this case because of the method, which w went beyond what we call reasonable as civilized people,” Wadel said. “You would have been better served to call animal control.”
The plea agreement called for DeRooy to be fined $400, but Wadel suspended fines and costs because he said he recognized DeRooy, who’s on disability, was in a difficult financial situation.
Ludington Police said DeRooy admitted he hit the alligator over the head with a hammer in an attempt to euthanize it and then dumped it in Copeyon Park behind the now vacant Mason County Services building on South Washington Avenue.
The charge carried a maximum of 93 days in jail, $1,000 in fines, 200 hours of community service, restitution for the veterinary care and housing of the animal, and court costs.
“It’s just a reminder that when people take in exotic or domestic pets that, yes, it’s cute when it’s young, but you need to think of the responsibility when it matures,” said Ludington Police Chief Mark Barnett.
Barnett said the incident reiterates the responsibility pet owners have when they look to get rid of a no-longer-wanted pet.
“When they make these decisions, they need to seek legitimate ways to find a new home for the animal and not dump it in a public place,” Barnett said.
The alligator initially survived and was taken to a shelter in Traverse City. Information about its condition was not available.
DeRooy waived his rights to an attorney at his preliminary hearing in June and was released on personal recognizance bond. As a condition of his bond, DeRooy was not allowed to own or possess any animals.
Sentence delivered in alligator beating