UNION, S.C. (August 4, 2026) — In Defense of Animals is deeply disappointed by the sentencing of Shaneitra Berniq Jeter, who was charged with animal torture for leaving her dog wrapped in a plastic bag inside a crate in the hot sun with no food or water to die.

On August 3, Judge Eugene C. Griffith Jr. sentenced Jeter after she pleaded guilty to the charges. Jeter received a Youth Offender term not to exceed five years, with the balance suspended, and 30 months of probation. Additionally, she was ordered to pay 50% of supervision fees and officially sign her dog over to Melissa Dameron-Vicors.

“Leaving a defenseless dog tied in a plastic bag to bake in the sun is an act of unimaginable cruelty. It is deeply disturbing that the court failed to hold this offender fully accountable,” said Doll Stanley, In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals Senior Campaigner. “Lenient sentences for sadistic abuse fail to protect both animals and the community from future violence.”

On May 23, 2025, the Union County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report from the Union County Animal Control that an unattended dog was in peril.  The dog, now named Lil Richard, was taken to the Triangle Veterinary Clinic and treated for severe injuries. The veterinary technician who aided in his recovery has since fostered and adopted him.

Jeter was charged with “ill treatment of animals, torture” under South Carolina Statute § 47-1-40(B) — “Ill-treatment of animals; torture, torment, needlessly mutilates, cruelly kills, or inflicts excessive or repeated unnecessary pain or suffering upon an animal.” This subsection makes the crime a felony, punishable by 180 days to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Though South Carolina law does not require mental health evaluation and treatment for convicted animal abusers, the presiding judge has the authority to order it. Prior to the sentencing, In Defense of Animals submitted a letter with 12,632 signatures to Assistant Solicitor Blaine Pleming of the 16th Judicial Circuit. The petition urged the prosecution and maximum sentence for Jeter without a plea deal, and requested that mandatory mental health evaluation and treatment be included as a strict condition of her sentence.

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Images and video (warning, graphic images): https://bit.ly/4yQbqLl

Contact: Doll Stanley, doll@idausa.org, (662) 809-4483

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization with over 250,000 supporters defending animals, the environment, and their guardians through education and campaigns, as well as hands-on rescue facilities in California, India, South Korea, and rural Mississippi, since 1983. www.idausa.org/justice4animals

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