Man Previously Banned from Owning Animals Arrested by SPCA After Allowing Pet Turtles To Freeze

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Christopher Koenig of Carle Place, 21, was charged with Aggravated cruelty to animals, police report.

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SPCA detectives arrested Christopher Koenig of Carle Place, 21, for cruelty to animals.

Photo by: Nassau County SPCA

Carle Place, NY - April 19, 2018 - The Nassau County SPCA announces an arrest for Aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony.
 
On January 31, 2018, Nassau County SPCA Detectives were visiting a Carle Place home to follow-up a court-ordered ban of possessing animals. They observed three Chinese softshell turtles in water in a sealed plastic bin outside with the temperature approximately 31 degrees Fahrenheit. This caused two of the turtles to freeze to death. The third turtle to become stunned, have a depressed mentation, cold stress, also sustained on its head a circular open wound which went all the way down to the bone, necessitating veterinary treatment.
 
Nassau County SPCA detectives conducted an investigation and today they arrested Christopher Koenig, 21, of Carle Place for Aggravated cruelty to animals.
 
Mr Koenig was processed by the Nassau County District Attorney's Animal Crimes Unit. He will be arraigned today in First District Court in Hempstead, NY.
 
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.