Not Guilty Plea Entered During Arraignment Hearing Video Conference in Animal Abuse Case Against Christopher Ferrell

Joe Lyons • January 19, 2024

This morning, at 11:30 AM, Christopher Ferrell and his attorney, Gregory Tarkowsky, appeared before Ashland County Court of Common Pleas Magistrate Paul T. Lange for Ferrell’s arraignment hearing via video conference regarding the animal abuse case. According to attorney Gregory Tarkowsky, his client pleads not guilty to both charges. The Ashland County Prosecutor’s Office was represented by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Michael Callow at the hearing.

Although Christopher Ferrell was initially charged on January 2, 2024, the Ashland County grand jury later indicted Ferrell on two counts – one count of cruelty to companion animals, a felony of the fifth degree, and one count of unlawful possession of dangerous ordnance, also a felony of the fifth degree.

The indictment states the following:

“Of the 2nd Partial in the year two thousand twenty four, THE JURORS OF THE GRAND JURY OF THE State of Ohio, within and for the body of the County aforesaid, on their oaths, in the name and by the authority of the State of Ohio, do find and present that CHRISTOPHER FERRELL did:

COUNT ONE: CRUELTY TO COMPANION ANIMALS a felony of the fifth degree. In that on or about December 29, 2023 through December 30, 2023, in Ashland County, Ohio, CHRISTOPHER FERRELL, did knowingly cause serious physical harm to a companion animal, to wit: a cat, in violation of Ohio Revised Code

COUNT TWO: UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DANGEROUS ORDNANCE a felony of the fifth degree. In that on or about December 30, 2023, in Ashland County, Ohio, CHRISTOPHER FERRELL, did knowingly acquire, have, carry, or use any dangerous ordnance, to wit: sawed off break action shotgun, in violation of Ohio Revised Code and against the peace and dignity of the State of Ohio.”

Ashland County Prosecuting Attorney Christopher R. Tunnell had previously released a statement after Ferrell’s arrest on January 2, 2024, noting that a complaint had been filed against Ferrell in the Ashland County Court of Common Pleas. The complaint, filed by the Ashland Police Department, charges Ferrell with cruelty to animals (also known as Goddard’s Law) and unlawful possession of a dangerous ordnance, both felonies of the fifth degree.

The statement further detailed that on December 30, 2023, concerned citizens had approached on-duty Ashland Police Officers to report finding an injured cat in a taped and thrown litter box in a dumpster on West Main Street in Ashland. The cat was alive but severely injured. The Ashland Police Department then contacted The Cat House Feline Sanctuary, Inc., a nonprofit organization that cares for homeless cats, and its Director Laura Bailey coordinated emergency veterinary care with Dr. Lisa Schwan of the Spring Meadow Veterinary Clinic. It was later determined that the cat had suffered inflicted, blunt force trauma and a penetrating wound to the head believed to have been caused by a pellet gun, and was beyond care and had to be euthanized.

A jury trial has been scheduled for March 19, 2024 at 8:30 AM. Ferrell remains held at the Ashland County Jail, unable to post the $25,000 bond amount.