WILMINGTON — Christopher Anthony Simpson appeared in court today on misdemeanor and felony charges of animal cruelty.
Simpson was joined by his girlfriend Alyssa Croom as he appeared before District Judge Lindsey McKee.
The New Hanover County Sheriff’s office has charged Simpson with the Christmas Day killing of a yellow Labrador puppy named Axel, which had been adopted from the county’s animal shelter in early December by Croom’s parents. According to the Sheriff’s office, Simpson violently beat the puppy after it urinated on the floor of the Crooms residence.
Related story: ‘Never seen an animal beaten so badly’: Man charged with killing puppy on Christmas
A veterinarian who performed a post-mortem examination on Axel told the Sheriff’s Department he had “never seen an animal so badly beaten.” The vet said Axel had suffered severe and repeated blunt trauma and internal bleeding, comparing the condition of the dog’s battered liver to “ground hamburger.”
This is not the first time Simpson has been accused of animal cruelty. In July of 2015, Simpson was charged with injuring a 3-month-old kitten. According to the Brunswick County District Attorney’s office, the case was disposed when Croom, the prosecution’s witness, decided not to testify and the charges were dropped.
According to Brunswick County court records, Simpson was also charged with assaulting Croom – while she was pregnant with his child – but she did not cooperate with the District Attorney’s office in pressing charges.
Under Susie’s Law, Simpson will face up to 10 months in jail.
Susie’s Law, passed in 2010 as HB 1690, made animal cruelty a more serious felony offense. Named for Susie, a pit-bull mix that was tortured and set on fire in Greensboro in 2009. Susie survived, but under the state laws of the time LaShawn Whitehead, the man who abused her, would have escaped prison time.
The prosecution requested Simpson’s bail be increased to $50,000, citing Simpson’s prior charges of animal cruelty, the extremity of the dog’s injuries in the current case, and text messages between Simpson and Croom, indicating plans to flee to Florida.
Judge McKee raised the bond to $100,000, at which point Croom stormed out of the courtroom. McKee had Croom returned to the courtroom, told her she was being disrespectful, and then ordered her to leave.
Video: Alyssa Croom started to tell her side of the story, until she was told not to by her grandmother, citing an attorney’s advice.
Simpson said he would hire his own attorney; his next court date will be Feb. 8, Room 302 at 9 a.m. in district court, located at Princess and Fourth streets in downtown Wilmington. He is currently in custody at the New Hanover County correctional facility.
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