© Baltimore County abused dog in corey hannah case
A Baltimore County jury sent a strong message Thursday about animal cruelty in the conviction of a man on 17 charges of animal abuse.
The case began in 2020 after authorities said they received a tip about a pit bull fighting ring. It took so long to get to trial because of COVID-19. Authorities said the evidence was so strong, it took the jury 90 minutes to convict.
Authorities said they rescued 26 dogs from a property belonging to Corey Hannah, 47, of Reisterstown. Some of the dogs were in such bad shape, that they had to be put down.
Authorities said Hannah turned his property into an animal torture chamber, saying they believe he also took in other people’s abandoned dogs that were mangled, beaten and cut from pit bull fights.
Acting on a tip about a suspected pit-bull fighting ring, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Baltimore County police raided the place and found the dogs. Some of the dogs were chained to a buried car axle but were only able to walk in circles. One animal was missing an ear.
“(The dogs were) in the woods, in the dark, no medical care, chained up. They really were enslaved, and they were left to suffer,” said assistant state’s attorney Adam Lippe, who is the county’s chief of the Animal Abuse Unit.
Authorities said the dogs weren’t fed regularly, water buckets were filled with mold and some of the animals were left in cages for so long, they wore their teeth down to the gums chewing on them.
“One dog in particular had an abscess that was a third of the size of his head,” Lippe said.
Authorities said they found veterinarian equipment on site, but no evidence the animals who needed treatment got it. Court papers named some of the dogs: Johnny, Good Girl, Old Man, Charly and Windy.
“The tragedy in the case is that the animals suffered and they paid the ultimate price for Corey Hannah’s neglect, abuse and torture,” Lippe said. “(It) makes a little part of me die. I think that it is really sad what people do to animals. All they want to be is treated fair. All they want to have is a nice day. They don’t deserve this.”
Hannah faces 17 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 13.
Court records indicate Hannah has a long and violent criminal history. In 2001, officials charged Hannah in an unusually cruel assault case in which he duct-taped his victim and caused two pit bulls to chew on the victim’s legs and buttocks. When the victim managed to escape, Hannah shot him.
Hannah was convicted and a judge gave him a suspended sentence.
Hannah’s record also includes assault, armed robbery, bank robbery and a DUI.
TOP STORIES FROM WBAL:
Baltimore family sues Sesame Place for $25M, claiming racial discrimination
Annapolis-based beer company lands big deal with Walmart
Taxpayers seek original documents from firm after business owner’s killing
From classrooms to bus stops, school districts race to fill many vacancies
Peabody Heights Brewery will add an arcade as part of an expansion
Dashcam video shows fatal shooting of driver who confronted squeegee workers
READ THE FULL STORY:Jury convicts Reisterstown man on 17 counts of animal abuse
CHECK OUT WBAL:Get all the latest Baltimore news, weather and sports. WBAL-TV brings you the best in Maryland news online, anytime.