What kind of person does this?
Franklin County Municipal Judge Harland H. Hale accepted guilty pleas to two counts of animal cruelty and one count of possessing a criminal tool a homemade silencer Santuomo used on the end of a rifle.
The pleas today could jeopardize Santuomo’s career. He still faces an internal disciplinary hearing with Fire Chief Ned Pettus Jr. He has been a firefighter since 1996.
Assistant County Prosecutor Heather Robinson said the facts of the case are brutal:
On Dec. 3, Santuomo laid down a plastic sheet in his basement and tied the dogs to a pipe, partially suspending their bodies. He shot them multiple times, then dumped their carcasses in a trash bin behind Fire Station 27 at 7560 Smoky Row Rd., where he was assigned.
“He later bragged about killing his pets to fellow firefighters, and he showed no remorse, even joking about it,” Robinson said. “Fellow firefighters were disgusted by what he did, and the Capital Area Humane Society was called to investigate.” (This is how serial killers start – first cruelty to animals, then moving on to human beings.)
Hale sentenced Santuomo to 90 days in jail and ordered him to pay a $150 fine. He must have no pets or firearms in his home for five years and serve 200 hours of community service; undergo random home inspections; and pay $4,500 in restitution for the costs of the investigation to the county and the Capital Area Humane Society, from which he had adopted the dogs.
He also was ordered to write a letter of apology to a firefighters magazine and to readers of The Dispatch.
Hale said Santuomo will be permitted to serve his jail time in 10-day stints over a two-year period. (Bull shit – since when do the criminals pick their jail time?!?!)
People that can do something like this to an animal have something seriously broken inside them. I personally feel acts like this deserve a much harsher penalty than what was given out and psych evaluations.
The first time I heard this story I was sick to my stomach. Ugh things like this make me ill.
@ all – I agree – penalty should be harsher and it is sickening. People who treat animals like this are not going to be any better to people.
I don’t get it. He could afford a cruise but not to board his dogs? He could also afford a high profile attorney. Nice to see you can kill people and animals and get a slap on the hand while possession nets you years in prison. Lawyers are scum.
@ Chris – I can’t agree that all lawyers are scum, but having a good one can certainly change your circumstances within the letter of the law. But I agree, this guy is a total douchebag. Sometimes I wish that we would do to people what they do to others – certainly would make people think.