Police: Md. Man Facing Charges After Slitting Throats Of 2 Goats

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—A Caroline County man has been arrested after authorities say he slit the throats of two goats and attempted to injure a third at a Maryland state park.

Back on April 8, 2016, the Maryland Natural Resources Police say that 21-year-old Mervyn Jay Downes, of Ridgely, slit the throats of two goats inside the Tuckahoe State Park. Police say Downes also attempted to injure a third goat on May 2nd, but it survived the stabbing.

Evidence collected at the scene later led police to Downes' home near the state park.

Downes is charged with three counts of aggravated animal cruelty in connection to this incident.

Downes was also charged with three counts of malicious destruction of property, two counts of destroying an animal in a state park, two counts of having a weapon in a state park, two counts each of trespassing and being in a state park after hours. Officers also seized several weapons from his home.

Police say the 21-year-old charged last December in an unrelated incident with multiple counts of illegal deer hunting and pleaded guilty in Queen Anne's District Court to one charge.

He was given probation before judgment and fined $1,500, all of it suspended. He is on probation until Sept. 3.

Downes is set for a preliminary hearing in Caroline District Court on July 5.

The maximum sentence for aggravated cruelty to animals is three years in prison and a fine of $5,000.