Two former Orangeburg County Animal Control officers pleaded guilty Monday to multiple counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty charges, saying their training was inadequate.

Scotty James Thomas, 39, of 119 Wileswood Drive, pleaded guilty to three counts while Johnny Kenoid Spells, 50, of 137 Nimmons Road, pleaded guilty to two counts.



Orangeburg County Magistrate Maree Williamson sentenced each of the men to 15 days in jail, suspended to a $100 fine and assessments per count.

The former animal control officers were facing a maximum sentence of 60 days in jail per count or a fine of up to $500 per count.

Both Spells and Thomas appeared to be in the process of paying the fine immediately after the hearing.

“I think it was a fair sentence,” said defense attorney Charles Williams, who was retained by Spells.

After speaking with the two men after and upon learning their allegations during the hearing, Assistant Attorney General C. Dale Scott, prosecuting the cases for the state, said the investigation may not be closed.

“We’ll be talking to them soon,” he said, referring to the three other animal control officers terminated in June 2007.

Spells and Thomas were fired along with three other county animal control officers, including program manager Eddie Haigler Jr., when allegations of animal cruelty came to light in the means and process officials performed euthanasia on unwanted animals.

A video showing the men euthanising animals on the back of a truck was secreted to the ensuing S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control investigation.



Prior to sentencing, both Spells and Thomas alleged they were never trained in the proper means to humanely put an animal down.

“We don’t feel like we’re getting a fair shake,” Spells said. “I’m not making any excuses for what we did. I’m saying we did the best we could with what we had.”

Spells went on to say his training in animal euthanasia consisted of a test where his instructor gave the answers to the class beforehand.

“The trainer never came up and said, ‘This is the way it’s got to be done,’” Spells told the court. “The answers were given to us.”

The warrants against the men indicated they “did knowingly and/or intentionally ill-treat and inflict unnecessary pain or suffering upon” various animals at the county animal shelter in September or October 2006, “by employing the ‘heart-stick’ method of euthanasia without first providing sedation” as is required by state law.

Williams interjected that the allegations have been thus far aimed at those who follow orders rather than those who give the orders.

“We’re trying the foot soldiers and not the colonels,” Williams said.

The men’s story was new to the prosecutor, who told the court the attorney general’s office was prepared to talk to them about further allegations if they are willing.

“We’ve offered that and asked that if the soldiers would tell us about the colonels,” Scott said. “But we haven’t heard or seen anything yet.”

The men said they would discuss any others allegedly involved, saying their supervisor knew of the improper methods being employed on the animals.

“And had he witnessed your doing it that way?” Scott asked.

“Absolutely,” Spell replied. “Most of the time, the county didn’t have the tranquilizer to do the tranquilizing. That was the problem, the county didn’t have the tools.”

However, after Monday’s hearing, the men’s explanation of inadequate training was disputed by Jo Ann Copes, a retired Orangeburg County animal control program manager.

“It’s not true,” Copes said. “Every one of these officers was given a manual on the training. They know it.”

Copes revealed Monday that she and former animal control officer Sandra D’Antonio recorded the secret video in June 2006 that led to the criminal investigation.

Copes said she hired one of the two officers and sent him to the two-day training in Beaufort.

Copes said the video she took shows a dog that “looks like somebody’s pet” being put down with methods not prescribed by state and federal law.

“They gave him the shot, into the heart, went straight in,” she said. “They jerked him off the truck, (the dog) landed on his head.”

The state’s 1996 manual for the proper euthanasia methods calls for the animals to be weighed and checked for owner’s identifying microchips before any sedation and the following lethal injection.

Ironically, across the city, a county council meeting had been called that had scheduled a discussion to update county ordinances on animal control.

Orangeburg County Administrator Bill Clark said the timing was coincidental that it fell on the day of the court hearing.

Asked about what he called a tragic situation involving the animals, Clark said the good things that resulted from the criminal acts was a better communication with the SPCA and a new county animal shelter slated to house twice the number of animals as the old Ruf Road facility.

“We’re glad we’ve been able to assist them (both the SPCA and county animal control)” in the housing situation, Clark said.

While Scott said the investigation into the other former officers may continue, what Spells called “an embarrassment” is over for the two former animal control officers

“It was an unfortunate situation,” said Thomas’ defense attorney, Russell A. Blanchard IV. “They’re just glad to have it behind them.”

T&D Staff Writer Richard Walker can be reached by e-mail at rwalker@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5516. Discuss this and other stories on-line at TheTandD.com.

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