56-Year-Old Brick Township Man Indicted On Charges For Failing To Provide Care For Animals

Thursday, August 29, 2024, 2:00 P.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

BRICK TOWNSHIP, NJ.- Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer reported on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, that a Grand Jury sitting in Ocean County, New Jersey, has returned an indictment charging Jeffrey Finlay, 56, of Brick Township, with 149 counts of Animal Cruelty in connection with events unfolded on May 4, 2023, in Brick Township, New Jersey.

     According to documents unsealed in the indictment, on May 4, 2023, Finlay requested that members of the Brick Township Police Department respond to his Mantoloking Road residence to assist him in removing a large number of animals from his home.

     Upon arrival, Police Officers found 157 cats and 3 dogs living inside the residence with Finlay. During the next 24 hours, the animals were removed from the home and transferred for treatment and evaluation to the Northern and Southern Ocean County Animal Facilities, which are under the control of the Ocean County Health Department. 

Initial Charge

     Following the animals’ removal, Finlay was initially charged with Failure to Provide Care for a Living Animal or Creature.

      During the ongoing investigation, 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 animals removed from Finlay’s home.

     The report determined that 25 cats needed to be euthanized, and four cats suffered severe bodily injury from Finlay’s failure to provide proper care for the animals. 

Upgraded Charges

     Based on the final report, Finlay was charged with Animal Cruelty offenses on June 11, 2023, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. After learning of the warrant, on June 14, 2023, Finlay surrendered himself to Detectives at the Brick Township Police Department. He was processed on the charges and was remanded to the Ocean County Jail. Following a court proceeding, Finlay was released on bail monitoring conditions.

“The rules of the court require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”