An Eagle Creek, Ore. man who confessed to killing his dogs in Nov. 2012 has defied a judge's order. KOMO 4 News reported on Monday, Feb. 25 that Japheth (J.P.) Daniel Stalcup, 25, who is awaiting trial on aggravated animal abuse charges, has a puppy in his home. Part of his conditions to be free from jail include "no possession or living with any animals."
KATU visited Stalcup's home on a viewer tip today and spoke with his wife, Rose Stalcup. She stated that they had had the puppy prior to the judge's ruling.
“It’s legal. We’ve already looked into it,” she stated.
She then ordered KATU to leave the property.
According to KATU, when he was reached by telephone, J.P. Stalcup also stated that he had permission to have the puppy, having cleared the puppy ownership with a judge.
Prosecutors disagree, stating that the defendant is not allowed to be in a home with any animals.
It is standard procedure that defendants awaiting trial on animal abuse charges do not have contact with any animals.
Police initially investigated Stalcup when he told the Clackamas County police that his dogs had gone missing. He claimed that he then found his deceased dogs, Buddy and Duke, 100 yards from his residence. Someone had killed both dogs with an axe.
In Nov. 2012, Stalcup told KATU, “What happens if, you know, they do that a couple more times and all of the sudden they’re not happy with – it’s not giving them as much jollies as it was the first couple times – so what are they gonna do next?"
According to KOIN 6, Stalcup reported his two dogs missing on Nov. 15, 2012. Missing posters described Buddy as a Blue Heeler mix and Duke as a black Labrador retriever.
Stalcup eventually admitted that he was the person who killed his dogs with an axe, claiming that he did not have an alternative.
Animal abuse is taken very seriously in Washington and Oregon. Both states recently received high rankings from the Humane Society for their animal protection policies.
According to the Humane Society, Washington State ranks fourth in the country for the 2012 Humane State Ranking, a report that includes all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The report includes animal protection laws and policies pertaining to animal welfare.
Oregon, which is also ranked fourth, recently earned high marks from the Humane Society for strong laws against puppy mills and animal fighting.
According to the Washington State Legislature, under its first definition, a person is guilty of animal cruelty in the first degree, RCW 16.52.205, when he or she intentionally (a) inflicts substantial pain on, (b) causes physical injury to, or (c) kills an animal by a means causing undue suffering, or forces a minor to inflict unnecessary pain, injury, or death on an animal.
Stalcup is due in court on Mar. 25.
Updates to this story will be posted as they occur.
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