BOSTON, May 13, 2015—A Dorchester teen arraigned today on animal cruelty charges will remain held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing next week, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

The 17-year-old male from Dorchester was charged in the Juvenile Session of Dorchester Municipal Court on charges of delinquency, to wit: trespassing, possession of a dangerous weapon, and two counts of cruelty to animals.  At the request of Assistant District Attorney Ryan Hawkins, Judge Joseph Johnston ordered the juvenile held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing to be held Monday.  Because he is under 18, the case and proceedings are not open to the public.

According to prosecutors, Boston Police officers responded to the area of an abandoned two-family house at 29 Mount Everett St. shortly before 4:40 Tuesday afternoon.  There, officers spoke with a neighborhood resident who reported there was a person behind the house with a knife.  The resident reported that dismembered cats had been observed in the yard in recent weeks.

Officers encountered the defendant behind the home, where Boston Inspectional Services had previously boarded over the building’s windows and marked the property with multiple “No Trespassing” signs.  Officers observed dismembered animal parts in the yard, as well as a machete, hand saw, folding knife, a right-hand rubber glove, bottle of Clorox bleach, and a black trash bag marked with the defendant’s first name.

The 17-year-old, who was wearing a black glove on his left hand when approached by police, initially provided officers with a false name. 

A law enforcement officer from the Animal Rescue League of Boston and Boston Animal Control assisted at the scene.  Boston Police additionally contacted the law enforcement division of the MSPCA.

The defendant is represented by Jamie Townes.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.