People v. Fennell

Following a jury trial, defendant Stephen R. Fennell was convicted of nineteen counts of willfully and maliciously torturing or killing animals, MCL 750.50b(2). The trial court sentenced him to three years’ probation, with the first year to be served in the county jail. He was acquitted of an additional charge of burning a building. Defendant appeals as of right. We affirm.

In this case we are asked to determine whether the animal torture statute, MCL 750.50b(2), is a specific or general intent crime. There is no case law in Michigan describing the degree of intent required under *263this statute…