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Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Lenard Maurice Shaw, 29, of Detroit, in connection with the violent beating of his blue pit bull puppy.

It is alleged that on March 1, 2023, at a residence in the 7380 block of Mettetal Street in Detroit, the defendant's puppy broke his sunglasses. Defendant Shaw no longer resides at this residence. The defendant filmed himself beating the dog. It is also alleged that on March 15, 2023, the defendant put the dog in a garbage can outside of the residence. Fortunately, the dog survived. The investigation of the Detroit Police Department and the Michigan Humane Society led to the arrest of the defendant on March 21, 2023.

Lenard Maurice Shaw has been charged with one count of Second-Degree Animals-Killing/Torturing, a 7-year felony, and one count of Abandoning/Cruelty to One Animal, a 93-day misdemeanor. *

"I have seen cases in the past where someone lost their life over a pair of sunglasses. This is the first one that I have encountered where a completely defenseless dog was allegedly savagely beaten over a broken pair of sunglasses. It defies logic and basic humanness that anyone would think this is acceptable. It is only not acceptable, but we allege that it was criminal," said Prosecutor Kym Worthy.

He was arraigned this morning in 36^th District Court and given a $50,000 cash bond. A bond redetermination hearing is scheduled for March 27, 2023, at 9:00 a.m., before Judge William McConico. The Probable Cause Conference is scheduled for March 31, 2023, at 9:00 a.m., and the Preliminary Examination is scheduled for April 5, 2023, at 9:00 a.m., before Judge Patricia Jefferson. Please request a photograph of the defendant from the Detroit Police Department.

*The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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