People v. Robards

Court properly convicted Defendant of aggravated cruelty to a companion animal. Evidence at stipulated bench trial showed that Defendant left 2 dogs inside a house and intentionally failed to provide them with food and water. The evidence need only establish that the defendant intentionally committed an act that caused the death of a companion animal, and both elements were proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Defendant's sentence of 12 months probation was unjustly lenient, and court improperly considered as a mitigating factor that Defendant did not cause harm to a human being. (CARTER and WRIGHT, concurring.)