A Satellite Beach dog groomer is now out on bond and has pleaded not guilty to abusing a German Shepherd service dog, but the accused potentially faces up to five years in jail plus a $5,000 fine if formally charged and convicted of third-degree felony animal cruelty – a stiffer penalty allowed under new Florida laws.
A viral Facebook post led law enforcement to investigate and discover a security camera video showing what Sheriff Wayne Ivey and Satellite Beach Police Chief Jeff Pearson say is James Corell Suthann causing serious injuries to a visiting Army veteran’s service dog.
Suthann, who was a contract groomer at Groomingdale’s on Jackson Avenue, faces punishment under Ponce’s Law, which became effective on Oct. 1. According to the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida, Ponce’s Law “allows judges to prohibit people convicted of animal cruelty from owning, possessing, or having contact with animals for a period of time determined by the court.”
The bill also increases the offense severity ranking for aggravated animal cruelty, “making prison sentences more likely for people convicted of felony animal cruelty,” the ARFF legislative action division says. Ponce’s Law is named after a puppy who was beaten to death by his owner in Volusia County in 2017.
Suthann, 37, of South Patrick Shores, has been released on $2,000 surety bond. He was videoed during the Feb. 6 incident at Groomingdale’s Pet Spa, 595 Jackson Ave., where Rick McGuire had taken his dog TT, who is trained to help calm McGuire’s PTSD, to get washed.
When the couple picked the dog up, TT was suffering from an apparent internal break of her tail from her spine that was blocking her bowel movements. She later had to have the tail amputated. Suthann was arrested Feb. 25 by Investigator Doug Scragg of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Animal Cruelty Unit as part of a joint investigation with members of the Satellite Beach Police Department.
Sheriff Ivey and Chief Pearson decided not to release the video because it was “too graphic.” Ivey, however, described that at one point you see Suthann cinch the pet’s head down so tight that the dog could no longer move and was obviously in pain. He described that further in the video, Suthann grabbed the dog’s tail and completely lifted him off the ground, injuring the tail.
“That was one of the worst things I’ve ever had to watch was that poor dog being senselessly abused and grossly mistreated. It was just disturbing,’’ Pearson said. “We have always taken the stance that if you hurt an animal in this city, we will do everything we can to hold you accountable and bring you to justice.”
Ivey stressed the owners of Groomingdale’s “had no knowledge that Suthann was capable of this type of activity and upon learning of the incident, took immediate and appropriate action to have him no longer at their facility.’’
It is unknown if Groomingdale’s was aware of Suthann’s prior arrest history. Brevard County booking records show that since 2012, Suthann has been arrested several times previously, on charges ranging from criminal mischief to aggravated stalking and violation of a domestic violence protection order.
Prosecutors are reviewing information for the case and will file charges if appropriate, said Todd Brown, public information officer for Office of the State Attorney Phil Archer, 18th Judicial Circuit. He declined further comment. If charges are filed, the case will be heard before Circuit Judge Morgan Laur Reinman. The public is putting pressure on Archer to prosecute the case to the full extent of the law, with local residents and animal rights groups circulating petitions.
Suthann’s family has retained Melbourne defense attorney Ernest Chang, who petitioned the court Feb. 27 for discovery including written or oral statements, documents, tapes and reports.
At this point Chang said it is way too early to make a specific statement on the case. He did say that he understood the strong public opinions on the case.
“As in any case, there should not be a rush to judgment. Let’s see what the evidence is before people make judgments,’’ he said.
