Overview

• On May 19, 44-year-old James Williamson allegedly placed his chihuahua puppy in a preheated oven following an argument with a family member.
• Neighbors reported hearing yelps before deputies arrived to find the puppy’s body in the driveway bearing severe burns.
• Williamson faces a class C felony charge of aggravated animal cruelty and remains jailed under a $15,000 bond.
• If convicted, he will be barred from owning animals in the future and could face prison time under Alabama’s current sentencing guidelines.
• Atmore Police Department Sgt. Darrell McMann labeled the act “horrible and inhumane” and has urged lawmakers to strengthen the state’s animal cruelty statutes.