A Dearborn teen accused of brutally abusing a pet dog to the point it had to be euthanized is scheduled to return to court Thursday.
Singin Kai Nelson, 18, remains behind bars at the Wayne County Jail, where he’s held on a $15,000 bond, according to online jail records. Police said Nelson caused “severe and catastrophic injuries” to a 2-year-old pit bull mix named Ice Cream Man.
Nelson is slated to appear in Wayne County Circuit Court in Detroit on Thursday for a final pretrial conference. His trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 13, records show.
On May 26, Dearborn police responded to multiple 911 calls reporting the abuse, authorities said.
At Nelson’s home in the 24000 block of Chicago Street, officers found the dog had suffered extreme injuries, including a broken skull, a broken nasal cavity and broken jaw, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said.
Nelson was taken into custody while the dog was transported to an emergency veterinary hospital in Allen Park, where he was euthanized due to the extent of his injuries, authorities said.
Investigators have not disclosed a motive for the alleged abuse but police said the incident was not related to dog fighting.
The Friends of Animals Metro Detroit organization, which had cared for the animal prior to its adoption, said Ice Cream Man was “an amazing dog who touched the lives of so many of our staff.”
The organization said that Nelson was not the person who had adopted him.
“We hope the legal process results in accountability and justice for Ice Cream Man and helps advance efforts to protect animals from cruelty and neglect,” Friends for Animals said in a statement issued June 2.
Nelson faces a charge of killing/torturing animals in the second degree, which is punishable by up to seven years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
During his arraignment May 28, Nelson stood mute and a plea of not guilty was entered by the court on his behalf, online court records show.
His attorney, Bill Colovos, didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment.
mreinhart@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Dearborn teen accused of brutally abusing pit bull to return to court
Reporting by Max Reinhart, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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By Max Reinhart, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
