EHT Man Sentenced to 364-Days in Jail for Killing Dog

MAYS LANDING – An Egg Harbor Township man was sentenced today for animal cruelty in connection with the killing of a dog, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced.

Steven D. Geisel, 51, of the 2000 block of Ocean Heights Avenue, Egg Harbor Township, was arrested on February 12, 2014 for the bludgeoning death of a female pit bull in a wooded area adjacent to Ocean Heights Avenue in Egg Harbor Township, on or about January 29, 2014.

The two-week investigation by the Egg Harbor Township Police Department and the Atlantic County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) led to the arrest. The investigation determined that Geisel beat the dog with a blunt object, inflicting traumatic injuries to its neck that caused its death.

Bail was set by Municipal Court Judge H. R. Switzer at $10,000 full. Geisel was lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility in lieu of bail.

On June 11th, an Atlantic County Grand Jury indicted Geisel on one (1) count of animal cruelty—a 3rd degree crime. The indictment stated that Geisel did torment, torture, and cruelly beat a living animal or creature, causing its death.

On August 19th, before Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Michael A. Donio, Geisel pled guilty to the charge.

Today, in accordance with a plea agreement, Judge Donio sentenced Steven D. Geisel to 364 days in jail and 2 years of probation. Judge Donio further ordered Geisel to pay restitution to the Atlantic County SPCA for expenses incurred during the investigation, and to perform 30 days of community service at the SPCA.

Assistant Prosecutor Deborah Hay represented the State in the matter.

Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652- 1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.