Bardstown man indicted on 10 counts of animal cruelty is arrested

STAFF REPORT

JOHN CARLOS LEWIS

Friday, June 7, 2013, 9:30 a.m. — The Bardstown man who was indicted in May on 10 counts of first-degree cruelty to animals has been arrested.

John C. Lewis, 25, was arrested and booked into the Nelson County Jail at 2:16 Thursday afternoon, jail records indicated. In addition to the animal cruelty charges, Lewis is also charged with being a persistent felony offender.

BACKGROUND. On Monday, April 1, 2013, Bardstown Police were dispatched to a home in the 100 block of Hagan Drive to investigate a complaint of animal cruelty. Officer Kyler Wright arrived at the home and found nine pit bulls barking in the home’s backyard. Two of the dogs were fighting, and one dog was dead. All but one of the dogs on the property were chained up, and the dog that was not chained was attacking the other dogs.

Police said all of the dogs were aggressive; several dogs were injured, with ripped and torn skin, and it appeared the dogs were starving, malnourished and were trying to eat each other. None of the dogs had food, and only a few had water available.

The Nelson County Animal Control and additional police were called to the home to assist the investigation and take care of the dogs. Police also sought veterinarian help form Dr. Dena Fitzpatrick of Special Pets in Bardstown.
Fitzpatrick examined the dogs and one was euthanized. The animal control officer took the eight surviving animals to the animal shelter where they were treated for lacerations. The dead dog and the one that was euthanized were six to eights month old; the rest were adult animals.

Lewis arrived at his home while police were there investigating. Lewis admitted he owned the animals but denied fighting the dogs. He was charged with 10 counts of animal cruelty and lodged in the Nelson County Jail. He was indicted on May 15, 2013, by a Nelson County grand jury but had remained at large since.

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