SALISBURY, Md. – An Eden man has been convicted of animal cruelty and sentenced to jail time.
The investigation began in November 2020, when the Wicomico County Humane Society received two complaints of a trailer that appeared abandoned with animals inside. Director Kim Nock, Animal Control Officers, and members of the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and found Ruger, a black and tan coonhound, inside the trailer. Ruger’s ribs were visible and he presented as aggressive. Animal Control questioned the owner, 60-year-old Ronald Boles, about Ruger’s condition, leading them to seize Ruger and take him to the Humane Society for treatment. Officials say Ruger weighed 41 pounds on entry to the Humane Society, and after being provided with proper food and medical treatment over the course of a month, he reached a weight of 60 pounds before being adopted.
On August 9, 2021, Boles pleaded guilty to two counts of animal cruelty and was sentenced to 60 days of incarceration to be served on home detention, followed by three years of probation. While on probation, Boles would be prevented from owning, possessing, or living with animals.
Three days later, on August 12th, the Wicomico County Humane Society received a complaint of a trailer that appeared abandoned with an animal inside. Officials found Rocky, a brown Redbone Bloodhound, inside the trailer with the door open. The trailer was discovered to be not fit to be occupied by humans or animals, and Rocky was seized for his protection.
Boles pleaded guilty to one count of animal cruelty on February 23, 2022, and was sentenced to 90 days incarceration to be served in the Wicomico County Detention Center. Boles was also found in violation of probation afforded to him in August 2021, and was sentenced to an additional 47 days, to be served consecutively.
Currently, the maximum penalty for misdemeanor animal cruelty is 90 days of incarceration, and Maryland Law does not provide subsequent offender enhancements for repeat offenders of animal cruelty.