Sad Animal Cruelty Case

ITHACA — William P. Sellers IV, the attorney for alleged dog-abuser Alexander Atkind, made some allegations of his own following Atkind's arraignment Wednesday, claiming that Atkind was assaulted by the dog's owner after telling him of its injuries.
 
Sellers also pointed to an unexplained, 24-hour delay by the owner in seeking treatment for the dog.
 
Atkind pleaded not guilty to felony-level animal cruelty charges in Tompkins County Court Wednesday.
 
On or about March 8, Atkind, a Cornell University student from the Boston area, allegedly beat a 30-pound Labrador-pit bull mix named Princess that was in his care. He also allegedly poured bleach on it, leaving it with diminished eyesight for life.
 
Originally charged with “overdriving, torturing and injuring animals” in violation of a section of the state Agriculture and Markets law, a misdemeanor, a Tompkins County grand jury on May 8 indicted Atkind on one count of aggravated cruelty to animals, a Class E felony.
 
Ithaca City Judge Judith Rossiter set Atkind's bail at $20,000 at his arraignment on the misdemeanor charge in March. Tompkins County District Attorney Gwen Wilkinson was granted a 30-day adjournment to present a charge of felony aggravated cruelty to animals charge against Atkind to a grand jury.
 
Last Friday, Atkind posted bail and was released. He traveled from his home in Massachusetts for his court appearance Wednesday.
 
Outside the court Wednesday, Sellers said all the facts of the case haven't been revealed. Princess was never in Atkind's care, Sellers said, presenting a version of the events which conflicts in some respects with the allegations against Atkind.
 
According to Sellers, Atkind told Ithaca Police about Princess' injuries midday on March 8. He expressed fear of Princess' owner, Sellers said, and sought police protection.
 
Ithaca Police, Sellers said, told Atkind it wasn't their job to protect him, and encouraged him to tell the owner, who was staying with his girlfriend, about Princess' injuries.
 
They met later on March 8, Sellers said, and the owner assaulted Atkind.
 
“His face was bloody,” Sellers said.
 
Later that day, while Atkind was talking with police, the owner called Atkind and convinced him not to press charges against him, Sellers said. Atkind agreed, and signed a form declining to press charges, Sellers added.
 
The owner even asked Atkind to feed Princess because he wouldn't be home to do it, Sellers said.
 
Late in the day on March 9, the owner sought treatment for the dog, and police charged Atkind for allegedly abusing the dog, Sellers said.
 
According to police reports, the investigation into the incident began on March 10, and Atkind was charged on March 11.
 
Though he didn't downplay the gravity of the allegations against Atkind, Sellers questioned the 24-hour delay in treatment for Princess, and expressed concern over what he sees as a “lynch-mob mentality where Mr. Atkind is concerned.”
 
“We're not in Nazi Germany or some totalitarian state, where people are convicted without a trial,” he said, referring to certain elements of the community who have expressed outrage at Atkind's alleged behavior.
 
“These are the same people who are upset, and perhaps rightly so, about the Patriot Act,” he said. “These are the same people who want to deny Mr. Atkind a fair trial.”
 
More facts will come out at the trial, Sellers said.
 
Wilkinson would not comment on whether or not Atkind had custody of Princess.
 
“We'll put our evidence forward at trial,” she said. “I'm confident that we can find a jury who can be impartial.”
 
A pre-trial conference is scheduled for May 30. If convicted, Atkind could face a maximum of two years in the county jail.