An area man has been arrested and charged with killing one of his girlfriend’s toy poodles and abandoning the other, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced on Wednesday. 

Nicholas C. Winter, 35, of Asbury Park, has been charged with third-degree animal cruelty resulting in death and abandoning a domestic animal, a disorderly persons offense.  

“We take animal cruelty cases extremely seriously in Monmouth County. Taking the life of a defenseless animal as a means to emotionally traumatize its owner is reprehensible and tragic,” Acting Prosecutor Linskey said. “We thank the joint efforts of the Asbury Park Police Department and the SPCA for their work on this case and their compassion for the canine victim in this case.”

The case background …

Shortly before 4 a.m. on Saturday, June 4, Asbury Park police responded to a Locust Drive residence and found the deceased dog, a 12-year-old male poodle named Bentley. The victim’s other dog, a 14-year-old female named Sophia, was reported missing, but found in the area several hours later.

An investigation led by Detective Anthony Houlis of the Asbury Park Police Department and Lt. Michael Magliozzo of the Monmouth County SPCA determined that following an argument, Winter repeatedly texted his girlfriend threatening the welfare of her dogs while she was at work.

A necropsy later performed on Bentley determined that the dog had died due to blunt-force trauma.

Winter was arrested and charged yesterday pending a detention hearing to take place in Monmouth County Superior Court. If convicted on the more serious charge against him, he could face up to five years in state prison.

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