In The Raymone Clements Trial, Conflicting Testimony Over Who Shot Dog

The federal trial continued Tuesday for the man accused of chaining a dog to a tree and shooting him in a Cleveland Heights park.

In fact, part of the proceedings included conflicting testimony on whether or not Ramone "Raymone" Clements shot Forrest the Dog.

However, for purposes of the trial, it ultimately does not matter if he shot Forrest of not.

He has been charged with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon -- charges to which he pleaded not guilty.

Clements, 42, of Cleveland, is not allowed to own guns or ammunitions because he has 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 his indictment.

He faces between 19 and 24 years in prison if he is convicted.

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

The ammunition charge carries a greater sentence -- if Clements is convicted -- than a conviction of animal cruelty would have.

During her testimony Tuesday, then-owner of the dog, Gabrielle Deloach, said she, Clements and another friend brought Forrest to the Forest Hills Park, chained him to a tree and then Clements abrubtly pulled a gun and fired four bullets at him, according to The Plain Dealer.

The newspaper also reported that a Cleveland Heights detective played a recording of Clements being interviewed by police. In the interview, Clements said that he only heard the gun shots and he assumed that Deloach or their other friend shot Forrest.

U.S. District Judge Donald Nugent is overseeing the trial, which is not finished.

Forrest, a bull mastiff, survived the shooting and he now lives in Solon with a new owner.