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Former Cherokee County officer convicted in deaths of two K-9s

The death of one left in a hot car led investigators to examine an earlier death. Their findings were disturbing.
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Daniel Wood Peabody had been a Cherokee Co. School Police officer since 2007.

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. — A former officer in Cherokee County has been convicted and sentenced in the death of two dogs - both current and retired K-9 partners.

The district attorney for the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit reported that 53-year-old Daniel Wood Peabody, a former officer with the Cherokee County School Police, pleaded guilty to abusing two dogs and obstructing justice.

The case stems from an incident on June 10, 2016 when Peabody, a former lieutenant with the school police, left his K-9 partner Inka in a vehicle without air as he checked on another dog his wife was caring for. Prosecutors said he forgot about Inka and the dog ultimately died from heatstroke.

“Daniel Peabody was aware of the dangers of leaving a dog in a closed vehicle without proper ventilation. Even so, he intentionally left Inka in his car with the windows rolled up, and then forgot about her,” said Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Lara Ashley Snow.

As the Cherokee County Marshals Office investigated, they soon learned of another suspicious incident involving his retired K-9 partner, Dale, who allegedly died from choking on a tennis ball.

Peabody later admitted that he had shot Dale in the head due to health problems rather than bring him to a veterinarian for euthanasia.

As part of a negotiated plea agreement, prosecutors were able to secure convictions in the deaths of both Inka and Dale, the district attorney's office said.

Peabody was sentenced to 36 months of probation, a $1,000 fine and 120 hours of community service. He also can't be employed as an officer for the duration of his sentence and can't be the sole owner or caretaker of an animal for the next 12 months. 

Snow said that the plea agreement was important in avoiding a lengthy trial and getting by some of the complications in prosecuting the case - namely that Dale's remains were never found and that the statute of limitations had passed on the cruelty charge for that animal.

It's been a long road to this outcome, however. An initial indictment was quashed earlier in the process since the defendant was not given notice or allowed to give a statement to the grand jury. The state appealed that decision and the appellate court agreed that the defendant was entitled to the opportunity to speak.

The state then presented the case to a grand jury once again after giving Peabody notice and allowing him to speak.  The district attorney's office said the jury then "true-billed" that indictment - but only in regard to Inka.

It was through negotiations that the defendant was allowed to enter a plea on the accusations related to both Inka and Dale.

With the final sentence, the crimes involving both dogs - cruelty to animals, cruelty to dogs and obstruction of an officer - remain on his record, District Attorney Shannon Wallace's office said. Peabody had been a Cherokee County Police officer since 2007.

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