R&B Singer Jaheim Arrested for Animal Cruelty After Allegedly Starving Dogs
Singer Jaheim has been arrested after more than a dozen dogs were found living in deplorable conditions at his New Jersey home, with one being euthanized following the grim discovery, according to officials.
The 44-year-old artist, born Jaheim Hoagland, has been charged with third-degree animal cruelty and failure to provide necessary care to an animal, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office said in a news release.
On Monday, officers from the Hillsborough Township Police Department responded to a report of “a puppy in distress” at the R&B artist’s home and discovered six dogs in separate animal crates on the property’s driveway, according to prosecutors.
Officials said in the release that the animals were inside crates “partially filled with several inches of water and dog feces,” and one dog was found unresponsive.
Hoagland had already been arrested on an unrelated matter outside of his home when police found nine more dogs in “varying stages of emaciation, without access to food and water” inside the residence, prosecutors said.
In total, authorities recovered 12 mixed-breed pit bull terriers, two American Staffordshire terriers and one mixed-breed boxer.
The dog who was found unresponsive in the crate — a mixed-breed pit bull terrier — had to be euthanized, according to officials, while two other animals were transported to a veterinarian clinic for emergency treatment due to their poor condition.
All 14 surviving dogs have since been taken to a local kennel for examination. An investigation is ongoing.
Prosecutors said on Thursday that Hoagland was booked into Somerset County Jail, pending a court hearing.
It’s unclear if he has retained an attorney who can speak on his behalf. A representative for Hoagland did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Hoagland broke out into the music scene with his 2001 debut album, Ghetto Love. His 2002 follow-up, titled Still Ghetto, saw notable hits such as “Fabulous” and “Put That Woman First.”
Another case of animal cruelty by a so called celebrity. I don’t care who you are. You must be prosecuted, jailed and pay a hefty fine for hurting defenseless animals !!!!!!!!!!!!! Animals abusers are nothing but cowards because they can’t do to people what they do to animals. Disrespect me in public and YOU WILL get shot. Your sickening, half assed life doesn’t mean anything to me. Animals lives do.