UPDATE ON HENRY THE DOG IN OVEN CASE

       As we promised, Humane Society of Utah  officials were present at the initial pre-trial hearing for Marc Vincent, the man accused of, among other things, putting his wife's dog, Henry, into a hot oven for at least five minutes.

       The September 5th hearing was inconclusive, since Vincent's attorney has asked for more time to "prepare discovery" in the case * that is, review the evidence more carefully.  Therefore, another pre-trial hearing has been set for Monday, September 18th.

       Again, HSU is following the case closely and will be present for the second hearing as well.  We'll keep you informed as new developments arise.  For now, please keep contacting the District Attorney's office (see addresses below) and ask that, if Marc Vincent is eventually found guilty of the charges brought against him, the most severe penalty possible under the current law should be given.

PLEASE CONTACT DISTRICT ATTORNEY - KEEP PRESSURE ON FOR STRONG PUNISHMENT

     A Murray man has been charged with two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals after allegedly beating a small dog named Henry, and also placing him in an oven.  According to the charges, on May 8 Mrs. Marc C. Vincent came home to find Henry with a swollen eye, and her husband admitted to chasing and cornering the dog with a leaf-blower, at which time the eye was injured.  On May 25, Mrs. Vincent observed that Henry's paws were burned, and Marc Vincent admitted to having put the dog in a 200° oven for five minutes.  Henry's damaged left eye was subsequently removed by a veterinarian.  Mrs. Vincent has left her husband and filed a restraining order against him, and says that Henry is still suffering physical and emotional trauma from his ordeals.

       The Humane Society of Utah is closely watching the legal proceedings involving this case for two reasons: First, if Marc Vincent is found guilty as charged and sentencing takes place, we believe that the harshest sentence possible under current Utah law should be imposed; and, second, to encourage the Utah State Legislature to make torturing an animal a third-degree felony in its next session.  Forty-one other states already have a felony provision in their animal- cruelty statutes.

       We are asking you at this time to either write or e-mail the District Attorney's office and ask them NOT to allow this case to be plea-bargained.  When plea-bargaining takes place, the defendant, if found guilty, all too often walks away with only a slap-on-the-wrist penalty.  Politely explain that you are outraged by the egregious nature of what was done to Henry, and would like to see an appropriate sentence passed.  The address is as follows:

 David E. Yocom
 District Attorney for Salt Lake County
 111 E. Broadway #400
 Salt Lake City, UT 84111

       Mr. Yocom's e-mail address is districtatty@co.slc.ut.us.
       Howard Lemcke, Deputy District Attorney, can be reached by e-mail at hlemcke@slco.org.

       A pre-trial hearing for Marc Vincent is scheduled for 1:30 PM on Tuesday, September 5th, at the Matheson Courthouse.  The Humane Society of Utah will be present at this event, and we will follow the case until it is concluded.  We will keep you updated on all developments, so please check this page regularly.  Thank you for caring.