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Friday, May 18, 2012
Bond cut in half for man accused of abusing Justice the puppy
Neither his family members nor the man who cared for the dog are happy with the outcome.
Darius Ewing
A bond was reduced from $100,000 to $50,000 on Friday morning in a hearing for 18-year-old Darius Ewing, who is accused of setting fire to a puppy in April 2012. His mother Kesha Hood testified in the 292nd Judicial Court that she believed a fair bond would be $1,500, which caused one visitor of the courtroom to gasp. At the end of the three-hour hearing, Judge Larry Mitchell cut the bond in half, saying that if Ewing pays to get out of jail, he would be required to remain in his home.
Fred Ewing, Jr., Darius' uncle, told Pegasus News that the lowered bond is not good enough. "I think it's unfair ... it's like finding him guilty before he has his day in court," he said. Fred Ewing says he believes his nephew is not guilty of throwing a cigarette on Justice, who later died from burns to 70% of his body. "It's a horrific crime. Whoever did it should be punished," Fred Ewing said. "[Darius] has an alibi."
Justice on April 9, 2012
Animal lovers packed the courtroom for the hearing, many wearing purple "Justice for Justice" shirts underneath their clothing. The abused puppy was mentioned very little during the hearing Friday morning; prosecuting attorneys instead fixated on Ewing's character, showing photos of his Facebook page with he and friends throwing apparent gang signs.
Jim Wenger, the animal rescuer with DFW Rescue Me who took in Justice before he died, said he was disappointed that Ewing's bond was cut in half. "A lot of things came out to show he doesn't have respect for himself, in my opinion, or for authority," said Wenger. "I do think he's a huge flight risk."
Many of the animal supporters were concerned that Ewing's bond would be lowered like it was in Mercy the dog's case, when DeShann Brown's bond was dropped from $50,000 to $2,500, and he was able to get out of jail on $250. The case with Justice the puppy seems to be held to a higher standard, said Jonnie England, director of Animal Advocacy and Communications for the Metroplex Animal Coalition.
"I'm OK with this," she said. "I think $50,000 is a good compromise. It shows the court understands the violent nature of this crime."
Fred Ewing said he and his family members will probably be able to pay to get his nephew Darius out of jail, but Fred said he hadn't decided what to do next. "I believe he's in the right place" -- meaning in jail, Fred said -- because of threats made against Darius.
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vickie, anonymous:
He's a thug and his mother's an idiot. And Rev. Wright is going to lead a campaign to raise money to bond him out of jail? This guy has been on probation since 7th grade and has violated the terms multiple times. What a bunch of horrible people.
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cslockhart0927, anonymous:
Who are you to judge his mother or Rev Wright? Are you God, no! A mother does everything she knows to do to protect thier child wich obviously you have no idea about. This world is more concerned about a dog than an human, we have priest molesting boys daily are you in the court room making sure he is convicted, no! The law says you are innocent until proven guilty, everyone is passing judgement on something you have no facts about only that this young man had some teen problems. Learn to pray first and mot pass judgement because if I was to stereo type people I would say white people need to keep their penis away from young boys!
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cooper45, anonymous:
cslockhart0927: your discussion makes zero sense. I'm fine with a mother protecting her son, but to what point when her son already turned himself in for the crime? Did you know that?
And I'm not sure that you saying the world is more concerned with a dog than a human makes much sense either, as I hope everyone would feel that any crime against a person or animal should warrant punishment. And also, this is a story about a innocent puppy that was set on fire and left to die, not about young boys and priests -- go find another article about that if you want to comment. And also, you are making a HUGE generalization about young boys and priests...where's your facts? You're so quick to jump on the bandwagon of people saying that Daruis is innocent until proven guilty and that he had many problems growing up...so, you know what that means? He should pay the price...do some jail time and learn a lesson.
And lastly, anyone on this article is reading it to make sure that justice is served for Justice the puppy. Not to hear you rant about "white people" who need to keep their privates away from young boys.
Grow up.
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emgodkin, anonymous:
cslockhart0927 If he is innocent as you seem to believe, then explaine why he turned himself in for this crime. People don't turn themselves in for a crime they did not commit. He should stay in jail. As for your "white" comment. Quit trying to play the race card on this crime. If he was white, yellow, black or purple I would say the same thing. Keep this violent person in jail.
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toddlermom01, anonymous:
By lowering this parasite's bail Mitchell is sending the message that this despicable behavior is unimportant. Ewing's parents, family, teachers and preacher should be ashamed for what they did not teach him....humanity & compassion. Texas you have a major problem with animal abuse. When will you recognize the suffering and murdering of innocent animals is wrong? http://www.facebook.com/humanelegisla... This link allows you to check the voting history of your legislators regarding animal protection. Get these judges off the bench who are releasing these abusers back into the community. Demand mandatory spay/neuter; insist our schools teach its students humane treatment of animals, challenge your religious organizations to educate its congregations to be compassionate and responsible toward its animals. The plight of unwanted and homeless animals is a direct result of man's irresponsibility, ignorance and carelessness and these animals are paying for it with their lives. No predator is more dangerous than a human without a conscience.
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rakester, anonymous:
cslockhart0927, the other think you need to remember is there a DOCUMENTED link between animal abuse and violence against humans. To you it might be "just a dog" but it's about more than that. Someone who can disregard and abuse an animal in such a hirrible and cruel way can move to harming people next. Is that what you want? This guy alreayd has an extensive wrap sheet. Stop throwing the race card around and look at the case for what is. Trying to get this young man off the streets before he targets a human next.
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Jason Rice, verified:
If you were driving down the road and some situation forced you to choose between swerving one way and hitting a dog or swerving the other and hitting a human, you would have my complete blessing in sparing the human. Complete.
But if you hopped a curb, knocked over a couple of trash cans and revved down an alley to chase the dog down, you'd have a closer analogy to the alleged situation.
Now whether he was goaded into it by conspirators is the only mitigating element. Shy of that, such behavior is exactly what we have laws to protect us from.
On another interesting front, turning yourself in when there is already a warrant is in NO WAY a confession. This might be seen as a point of good character in most communities. In most places a fugitive state is more attributable to guilt than a compliant cooperation.
I just wish they'd get to the bottom of this one.
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morgancooney, anonymous:
If that child is guilty....MAX OUT HIS PUNISHMENT!! So what he's had a troubled or bad childhood.....so did I and I'm not burning poor helpless animals alive. Moms PLEASE don't keep bailing out your MONSTERS...The only way a person learns from a mistake is to suffer the con sequences. And people (cslockhart0927) STOP throwing the race card! As long as people like you are throwing that card racism will exist!! I don't care if it was a little green boy from mars, that innocent puppy suffered and so should the person responsible for doing it!
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vickie, anonymous:
hmmm....someone is obsessed with priests and young boys....
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rbeck69, anonymous:
@CSLOCKHART0927 YEP U GOT THAT RIGHT MS. KNOW IT ALL,ALOT OF US ANIMAL LOVERS WOULD PICK A "DOG" OVER A HUMAN ANY DAY,MOST HUMANS ARE HEARTLESS,BACKSTABBING HYPACRITS<spell check....YOU="" ARE="" LIVING="" PROOF!!!="" IF="" I="" HAD="" MY="" WAY="" AND="" COULD="" MAKE="" THE="" RULES="" I="" WOULD="" PUNISH="" ANIMAL="" ABUSERS="" THE="" SAME="" WAY="" HUMANS="" ARE="" PUNISHED,AN="" EYE="" FOR="" AN="" EYE.="" PPL="" LIKE="" U,(AND="" BTW="" THERE'S="" ALOT="" OF="" U'S="" IN="" THIS="" DISGUSTING="" WORLD)="" MAKE="" ME="" SICK="" WITH="" THE="" IGNORANCE="" U="" IDIOTS="" HAVE="" AND="" WILL="" BE="" SORRY="" FOR="" SOON.="" DO="" YOURSELF="" A="" FAVOR="" AND="" GET="" KNOWLEDGE="" OF="" THE="" BIBLE="" AND="" U="" WILL="" SEE="" JUST="" HOW="" IMPORTANT="" ANIMALS="" WERE="" TO="" GOD,GO="" READ="" AND="" THEN="" LETS="" SEE="" IF="" YOUR="" GONNA="" SAY="" "IT'S="" JUST="" A="" DOG"="" SO="" I="" CAN="" SLAP="" THE="" HELL="" OUT="" OF="" U!!!="" GET="" AT="" ME="" SWEETIE:)="">
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Jason Rice, verified:
Wow - loves his dog enough to let him type on his iPad.
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jim3852, anonymous:
We all make choices in life, he chose to drop out of high school, he chose to disrespect the law, he has made many choices in his life and it seems most have been bad or ill advised. Some would say he never had a chance due to his race or economic standing. We all have choices. I dropped out of high school, I thought I knew better (as most teenagers do), I have lived in a car when I couldn't make rent (again as a teenager), but I always worked. I have always had a paycheck and always did an honest job. I understand where he has been. He chose the wrong path, he may or may not be guilty of abusing and leading to Justice's death, but he has not been a productive member of society. It has nothing to do with his race or religion, it is his choices. He doesn't respect himself or anyone else. I hope this opens his eyes and ends his streak of bad choices and not accepting responsibility for his place on this earth. He is where he is due to what he has decided to do.
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bbear4u, anonymous:
OK the guy turned himself in for the crime. What's to understand. Bail shouldn't even be a consideration. How much deciding did it take to decide to torture a helpless animal. Just one excuse after another. It's time we stopped accepting excuses.
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jeandarc, anonymous:
cslockhart0927 your ignorance and racism are both disgusting. Are you telling me that this evil wretch and his mother have ANY argument to justify such an action? It is a well documented fact that any person who abuses an animal is very likely to treat his fellow human the same way. I say this POS should be put down ASAP.
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What do you think?