Grand Theft Doggo

Ashley Hunter
ECB Publishing, Inc.

A Monticello man has been arrested on grand theft charges after stealing a dog worth $1,000.
On Tuesday, November 6, Jefferson County Deputy Harrison responded to a call in regards to a possible burglary.
The victim relayed that she believed the burglary had been committed by Zackery Clark, 18, of Monticello, as well as a friend of Clark’s.
The victim informed Deputy Harrison that she had reason to believe that Clark and his friend had gone into her home and stolen her dog.
The victim said that she had left her home at around 11:30 a.m. that morning, and at that time of her departure, her dogs had been secured inside of her home.
When the victim arrived home at around 6 p.m., she found that her dogs had been let loose into the yard; in addition, her nine-month-old teacup Chihauhau was missing.
The victim told Deputy Harrison that a friend of hers had received a text message from Clark where he had reportedly claimed to have taken the victim’s Chihauhau puppy.
At this point, the victim had gone to the house of one of Clark’s relatives and confronted Clark, at which point the victim said, in her report, that Clark had admitted to stealing her dog, but only as a prank.
The victim reclaimed her Chihauhau puppy and returned home.
According to the report issued by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the puppy was valued at around $1,000.
After receiving the victim’s statement, Deputy Harrison made contact with Clark and his friend.
According to Clark, he and his friend had gone to the victim’s home between 3-4 p.m. to see if someone was at the residence.
During his first statement, Clark claimed that his friend had gone into the home with him and that they had both taken the dog as a joke on the victim.
However, Clark later changed his story and said that his friend had gone into the home while Clark remained outside on the porch.
When Deputy Harrison spoke with Clark’s friend, the friend said that he and Clark had gone to the home to pick tangerines and visit with another individual who lived with the victim.
Clark’s friend stated that when they arrived and saw no one was home, Clark took the dog and left with the puppy.
The friend also, however, ended up changing his story, later claiming that the Chihuahua puppy was already running around the yard when they arrived, and when they opened their car door, the puppy jumped in the vehicle by itself and they just “drove away with it”.
After all statements had been taken, Clark was charged with one count of burglary to an occupied structure and one count of grand theft (more than $300 but less than $5,000).
Zackery Clark was arrested at 3:38 p.m. on Tuesday, November 30 and booked into the Jefferson County Jail on the same day.