(12-17-22) Hometown Stations reported last night that two Mercer County juveniles have now been charged with animal cruelty following a video of a calf at a Mercer County farm in Marion Township being abused that was circulating on social media in November.

The Mercer County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in the report that the two juveniles (names being withheld) have been charged with delinquency for animal cruelty.

No other details have been released on court appearances.

Two Mercer County juveniles charged with delinquency for animal cruelty for calf abuse video

Hometown Stations – You Tube Video

According to the Lawyers.com –

Animal Cruelty Laws in Ohio

What Is Considered Animal Cruelty in Ohio?

Ohio’s animal cruelty laws prohibit deliberate and negligent acts or omissions that cause unnecessary pain and suffering to companion animals.

Cruelty to Pets and Companion Animals

It’s a crime in Ohio to abuse or neglect pets—cats, dogs, and other animals kept in a person’s home—in a variety of ways, including:

  • torturing, needless mutilation or killing, poisoning, or any other act of cruelty
  • not giving a pet the food and water it needs
  • confining a pet without supplying it with enough good food and water, as well as shelter from the elements, if it’s reasonable to expect that the animal would suffer as a result; and
  • deliberately doing anything that causes serious physical harm (including suffering from prolonged pain).

Punishments for Animal Cruelty

A first violation is either a first- or second-degree misdemeanor and carries penalties of 90 to 180 days in jail, plus fines. Subsequent violations are fifth-degree felonies, which can mean prison time.

RELATED: