CANTON − A longtime Stark County dog trainer has been convicted in the 2025 death of Zeb, a golden retriever.
Stark County Common Pleas Judge Kristin Farmer found Jerry Barnes guilty on one of two animal cruelty counts he faced. The 71-year-old Barnes, of Marlboro Township, had stood trial before the judge last month.
She delivered her verdict on May 19.
In Farmer’s written ruling, she stated the prosecutor proved Barnes acted “negligently” when the 7-year-old dog died as he trimmed its nails on a grooming table. However, she noted, the state fell short in establishing Barnes had “knowingly caused serious physical harm.”
The result: Barnes is guilty of a misdemeanor crime, but not guilty of a felony. He’ll return to court at 10 a.m. May 28 for sentencing. He faces a maximum of 90 days in jail and a $750 fine.
Barnes’ attorney Aaron Kovalchik declined comment for this story.
Julie Jakmides, who filed a civil lawsuit against Barnes and his business two weeks after the criminal trial, declined comment for this story on behalf of Zeb’s owners, Ken and Martha Hyland.
Zeb’s first training session was his last
The Hylands, also of Marlboro Township, got Zeb from a dog breeder in 2023. He became a model family pet with one exception. During walks with Martha Hyland, Zeb got very excited when they began to walk home, making it difficult for her to control him on a leash.
The problem led them to Barnes for help.
As operator of “The Well Heeled Way,” he had three decades of training experience. He also had an informative website and lots of glowing reviews. He’d also been personally recommended by Martha Hyland’s chiropractor, who’d surmised her back problems were linked to Zeb’s tugging.
During the trial, evidence and testimony showed Zeb died during a break from a May 5, 2025, training session at Barnes’ house.
After Zeb had jumped on Barnes and scratched him, the trainer told the Hylands the dog’s nails had to be trimmed. Barnes slipped a leash, which he referred to as a noose, around the dog’s neck and another on his hind area, as the dog stood on a grooming table.
During an interview with police days later, Barnes told the officer he’d used the wrong kind of neck leash — one without a safety feature.
As Barnes trimmed, the Hylands held portions of Zeb’s body in their hands, because they believed he was struggling to breathe. The dog defecated during the procedure. Martha Hyland said that at one point, she asked Barnes why Zeb’s eyes were rolling back.
“His tongue is turning purple,” Martha Hyland said she finally told Barnes.
By then, the dog was likely dead.
Barnes released the restraints and placed Zeb on the floor.
The dog collapsed.
Barnes’ attorney noted Hylands were free to leave
In written closing arguments, presented a week after the trial, Kovalchik wrote that Barnes had committed no crime. He stated the Hylands could have taken Zeb home at any time.
“Not every tragedy is a crime,” he wrote. “Reasonable doubt exists in the instant case not only due to the lack of evidence, but due to the fact that both parties literally had their hands on Zeb when he passed. This fact pattern is more suited for a civil action than a criminal proceeding.”
The judge didn’t completely agree.
In her verdict, Farmer found that Barnes’ use of an incorrect collar on Zeb’s neck was a “substantial lapse from due care.” She wrote that he’d ignored indicators the dog was suffering and dying.
“Such neglect by the defendant caused unnecessary or unjustifiable pain or suffering to Zeb,” she wrote, “despite the fact that a reasonable remedy, such as lowering the lever to which the collar was attached to the lowest point or pausing to check on the animal, was available.”
Reach Tim at 330-580-8333 or tim.botos@cantonrep.com.On X: @tbotosREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark County judge convicts trainer on lesser charge in death of dog
Reporting by Tim Botos, Canton Repository / The Repository
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