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Teens accused in alpaca case are safer in jail, family says

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By Lauren Pack, Staff Writer Updated 8:13 AM Friday, March 12, 2010

HAMILTON — The family of a 17-year-old Madison Twp. boy accused of beating an alpaca to death wants the youth to remain in detention until trial out of fear for his safety, according to his defense attorney.

The juvenile and another 17- year-old boy appeared in Butler County Juvenile Court on Thursday, March 11, to face charges for the alleged theft and beating of Masterpiece, a 3-month-old alpaca, on Feb. 5.

The alpaca killing has angered many area residents and animal lovers, who’ve called the incident a “senseless act of violence.”

“At this time the family is not asking for this young man to be released for his own safety,” said Traci Combs-Valerio, defense attorney for one of the teens.

Paris Ellis, the attorney representing the second teen suspect, requested that his client be released and put on electronic monitoring.

Judge Kathleen Romans ordered both boys to remain at the county juvenile detention center, where they’ve been since the beginning of the month.

The boys were in juvenile court Thursday for a hearing on charges of breaking and entering, grand theft, tampering with evidence and vandalism, all felonies, and animal cruelty, a second-degree misdemeanor.

Prosecutors have asked for the juveniles to be transferred to Common Pleas Court, where they would be tried as adults.

Romans scheduled a probable cause hearing for March 30 to determine if enough evidence exists to proceed to trial. The judge would then set a hearing to determine if they should be tried as adults, meaning the boys could remain in custody for at least three more weeks.

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