Crime & Safety

Accused Dog Shooter Faces Another Federal Charge

The man accused of shooting Forrest the dog now faces weapons charges in federal court

A superseding indictment was filed adding an additional charge of being a felon in possession against Raymone “Ramone” Clements -- the man accused of shooting Forrest the dog and leaving him for dead in Clevelad Heights.

Clements, 42, of Cleveland, was indicted last month on a charge of being a felon in possession of ammunition. Clements was found to have one round of .357-caliber ammunition and two rounds of .22-caliber ammunition on Dec. 20, 2012, despite previous convictions in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas for rape in 2006, drug trafficking in 2003 and aggravated robbery in 1991, according to the indictment.

A second count has been added, charging that on or about Jan. 17, Clements had possession of a .22-caliber Derringer despite the aforementioned convictions.

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“This office places a high priority on keeping firearms and ammunition out of the hands of those who are forbidden by law from obtaining them,” Dettelbach said.

“Whether is a person using a gun to commit a violent crime, a felon illegally obtaining ammunition or a straw purchaser trying to circumvent the law, we will aggressively pursue those who would violate our nation’s firearms laws.

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"We will continue to work side by side with our federal, state, county and local law enforcement partners to make sure those individuals who illegally possess firearms and/or ammunition are held accountable for their actions,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Robin Shoemaker, Columbus Field Division.

Though Clements was originally charged in local courts for animal cruelty and weapons charges, those charges were dropped earlier this month in lieu of his federal prosecution.

Forrest, a bull mastiff, was found in Forest Hill Park by a professional dog walker and rescued by PAWS. Later, he was adopted into a Solon home.

See all stories on the Forest Hill dog shooting. 

Now Forrest has become a mascot for efforts in Ohio by PAWS and other animal rights activists to make animal cruelty a felony in Ohio.

Clements' case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly L. Galvin following an investigation by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Cleveland Heights Police Department.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.


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