A court hearing for a Baytown resident, accused of horrifying acts of animal cruelty, has been rescheduled after his defense attorney recused himself from the case due to its disturbing details, as confirmed by the District Attorney’s Office, CrimeSpace has learned.
The accused, 44-year-old Justin Reilly Belton, faces charges involving four counts of cruelty to non-livestock animals. The specific allegations entail intentionally mutilating the paws and legs of at least four puppies using an unspecified tool.
Belton was detained and is currently in custody at the Harris County Jail. His bail has been set at $48,000, a figure reflecting the severity of the charges against him, according to KPRC.
Court documents disclose that the alleged acts of animal cruelty occurred around June 17, with Belton accused of knowingly carrying out these brutal actions on the innocent puppies. The details of these acts have proven to be so appalling that Belton’s initial defense attorney chose to withdraw from the case.
As a result of this development, Belton’s court hearing has been postponed and rescheduled for the following Wednesday. In the meantime, the court is engaged in the process of assigning a new defense attorney to represent Belton. The challenges surrounding this case highlight the severe and shocking nature of the crimes Belton stands accused of.
