ATHENS, Ohio — Scott McCall, 54, of Nelsonville, was arrested on December 21, 2024, after being indicted on charges of cruelty to companion animals, a fifth-degree felony, and tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, the Athens County Prosecutor’s Office announced Monday.
McCall is accused of fatally shooting a dog with a pellet gun and attempting to conceal the death by tying items to the dog’s remains and discarding them in a pond.
He appeared via video before Judge Patrick J. Lang on Monday for arraignment. The State of Ohio requested a $100,000 bond with no 10% option, along with conditions prohibiting McCall from having animals under his care or control. However, the court released McCall on his own recognizance with standard conditions and an order barring him from possession or custody of animals.
A status conference is scheduled for January 16, 2025, as the case proceeds.