Moberly prison inmate charged with animal abuse and harassment for alleged dog hanging

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A prisoner at Moberly Correctional Center was charged Friday with animal abuse and harassment for allegedly hanging his ex-girlfriend's dog by its leash last September.

Brian P. Wadley, 42, was charged with felony animal abuse and harassment in Boone County. He's serving a four-year sentence in Moberly on charges including receiving stolen property, leaving the scene of a crash and drug possession, according to online prison records.

Court documents say he was homeless and living in the woods when he was arrested for a probation and parole violation.

Wadley is accused of sending videos via his cellphone of the woman's brown Chihuahua mix hanging from a leash and collar, according to a probable cause statement. Wadley allegedly said in the videos that he was punishing the dog for the woman's behavior.

Wadley allegedly admitted to sending the messages to the woman because he was mad at her. He told a Columbia Police Department officer that he had left the dog tied to a tree. It wasn't clear from court documents whether the dog survived.

No hearings have been scheduled.