Brick Township Man Pleads Guilty To Animal Cruelty Offenses

Thursday, February 27, 2025, 5:30 P.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

BRICK TOWNSHIP, NJ.- On Monday, February 24, 2025, Jeffrey Finlay, 56, of Brick Township, New Jersey, appeared in Ocean County Superior Court and pleaded guilty before Superior Court Judge Kenneth T. Palmer to two counts of Animal Cruelty in connection with an incident that occurred on May 4, 2023.

     In return for the guilty plea, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office will recommend that Finlay be sentenced to 180 days in the Ocean County Jail as a condition of a term of probation. Finlay will be banned for life from owning pets, and he will also be required to complete a term of community service not involving animals.

     After entering his guilty plea on Monday, Judge Palmer accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for April 25, 2025.

     According to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, on May 4, 2023, members of the Brick Township Police Department responded to a residence located on Mantoloking Road after Finlay called requesting assistance in removing a large number of animals in his residence.

Police Officers Find Over 150 Cats And 3 Dogs

     Upon arrival, Police Officers discovered around 157 cats and three dogs living in the residence. Over the next 24 hours, the animals were removed from the residence and were transferred to two Ocean County Animal Facilities for treatment and evaluation. Following the removal of the animals, Finlay was initially charged with Failure to Provide Care for a Living Animal or Creature.

     Approximately a month later, on June 5, 2023, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and the Brick Township Police Department received the final veterinary reports from the Ocean County Health Department regarding the condition of the removed animals. The report revealed that 68 cats had suffered serious bodily injuries and had to be euthanized, all as a result of Finlay not providing proper care for the animals.

     Based on the findings, Finlay was charged on June 11, 2023, by a complaint warrant for Animal Cruelty. On June 14, 2023, Finlay surrendered himself to Detectives of the Brick Township Police Department. After making his initial appearance in Ocean County Superior Court, Finlay was released on bail monitoring conditions.