Charges filed against three who tortured shark to death - Animal Advocates, Mary Cummins

Robert Benec, Michael Wenzel, Spencer Heintz, florida, animal cruelty, shark, death, felony, charged, fish and wildlife conservation commission, hillsborough county state attorney's office, investigation, arrested, mugshot, booking, photo, criminal, crime, illegal take, 

02/28/19: Michael Menzel in shark dragging pleads guilty to two misdemeanors and gets ten days in jail and probation. Robert Benac awaits trial. Charges dropped against Spencer Heintz. The state dropped the main charge which was dragging the shark behind the boat. They dropped the charge as a shark expert said the shark was dead before they dragged it. 

"Wenzel had been facing another felony count of animal cruelty, but it was reduced to a misdemeanor. He also pleaded guilty to a charge of using an illegal method to catch a shark. A commercial fisherman, his saltwater fishing license was revoked for five years. Along with his jail time, which he can serve on weekends, he was sentenced to 11 months of probation and 100 hours of community service. A prosecutor asked that half those hours be served at an animal shelter or animal abuse facility, but attorneys questioned whether such a center would allow him near animals."

Robert Benac was offered the same plea deal but he refused and case is going to trial.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/boat-captain-in-shark-dragging-case-gets-10-days-jail-for-animal-cruelty-20190228

12/12/17: Can't believe two of these aholes had the nerve to smile, smirk in their booking photos.

The men charged are the following,

Michael Wenzel (DOB 06/07/1996) of Palmetto, Florida

•Two felony counts of Aggravated Animal Cruelty (Third-degree felony).
•One misdemeanor count of Illegal Method of Take – Shark (Second-degree misdemeanor).

Robert Lee Benac (DOB 04/2/1989) of Bradenton, Florida

•Two felony counts of Aggravated Animal Cruelty (Third-degree felony).
•One misdemeanor count of Illegal Method of Take – Shark (Second-degree misdemeanor).

Spencer Heintz (DOB 10/14/1994) of Palmetto, Florida

•Two felony counts of Aggravated Animal Cruelty (Third-degree felony).

They turned themselves in to authorities and were booked. Wenzel and Heintz bonded out of jail while Benac remains in the Hillsborough County jail.

If convicted, they could each go to jail for up to ten years with $20,000 fines. 

A person who intentionally commits an act to any animal, or a person who owns or has the custody or control of any animal and fails to act, which results in the cruel death, or excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering, or causes the same to be done, commits aggravated animal cruelty, a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.
Up to five years in prison

A maximum fine of $10,000

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

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