Jury finds Memphis shelter worker guilty of animal abuse

Friday, June 7, 2013

photo Billy Stewart, former employee of Memphis Animal Shelter, appears in court in this June 4, 2013, file photo. (Nikki Boertman/The Commercial Appeal)

A former Memphis Animal Shelter employee accused of choking dogs to control them as they were about to be euthanized was convicted Friday on four counts of aggravated cruelty to animals.

Billy Stewart, 29, was one of three shelter workers indicted last year following a several-month undercover investigation by police prompted by allegations of animal cruelty, animal fighting and unaccounted-for animals.

A Criminal Court jury of seven men and five women deliberated about four hours before returning the guilty verdicts and rejecting Stewart's defense that included blaming the shelter for providing little or no training.

Read more at Commercial Appeal.