(2-23-25) Johnie Ellis (62) of Celina was booked today by the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department on one count of 5th degree felony charge of Prohibitions against cruelty to companion animals.

He is being held in the Mercer County Adult Detention Center with no bond and is awaiting a Mercer County Common Pleas Court hearing.

Prohibitions against cruelty to companion animals include laws that prohibit: 

  • Deprivation: Withholding food, water, or shelter
  • Confining: Keeping animals in conditions that are dangerous to their health
  • Torture: Beating, mutilating, or poisoning animals
  • Abandonment: Leaving animals without care

In Ohio, violating prohibitions against companion animal cruelty can result in fines and jail time, depending on the offense and whether it’s a first or subsequent violation. 

Penalties 

  • First or second violation: A misdemeanor that can result in 90 to 180 days in jail and fines
  • Subsequent violations: A fifth-degree felony that can result in prison time