Jonathan Babineaux is not a top NFL player like his Atlanta Falcons teammate, Michael Vick. Nor is he as famous. But he may be as cruel to animals as Vick. Yet he is still playing football.

Babineaux has been accused of killing Kilo, a pit bull mix owned by his girlfriend. Kilo died of severe head trauma. Babineaux claims he accidentally smashed the dog's head into the wall when swinging him by his leash. He claims a trainer recommended swinging the dog to control aggression.

Despite this story, Gwinnett County, Georgia prosecutors are proceeding with charges of felony animal cruelty. He is out on $2300 bail, but if convicted faces up to 5 years in prison and $15,000 in fines. For the crime of aggravated animal cruelty in Georgia, no matter how barbaric and inhumane the conduct, the maximum sentence is five years in prison with a $15,000 fine. Only the fine is increased for a second and subsequent offense. O.C.G.A. § 16-12-4(c.

Why is Babineaux still playing football? The Falcons dismissed the charges as a "personal legal matter". Really? Let the National Football League and the Atlanta Falcons know it's time to adopt a zero tolerance policy for animal cruelty.

Contact the NFL:

National Football League
280 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
212-450-2000

Click here for an NFL directory:

http://www.rauzulusstreet.com/football/profootball/nflldirectory.htm

Click here to contact the Atlanta Falcons:

http://www.atlantafalcons.com/About/Contact_Us.aspx

Also contact District Attorney Danny Porter and politely encourage him to prosecute Jonathan Babineaux and push for the maximum allowable sentence of 5 years in jail and a $15,000 fine.Gwinnett County District Attorney
Danny J. Porter
Gwinnett Co. Justice & Admin Center
75 Langley Drive
Lawrenceville, Georgia 30045
Tel: (770) 822-8400
Fax: (770) 822-8465
Website: www.co.gwinnett.ga.us

If someone abuses or tortures animals, that is a very strong indicator they have been or will be violent towards spouses, children and other people. The mental health field calls this "the link".

And the numbers support this link between animal abuse and domestic violence and other violent crimes.

70% of animal abusers were found in one 20 year study to have then committed other crimes, and 44% went on to harm people. (Arluke, A. & Luke, C. 1997).

In another recent study 99% of animal abusers had convictions for other crimes. (Clarke, J. P. 2002). In that same study it was found 100% of people who committed sexual homicide had abused animals. (Clarke, J. P. 2002). That study also revealed 61.5% of animal abusers had assaulted a human as well. (Clarke, J. P. 2002).

63.3% of inmates in one prison study who were in for violent crimes admitted to abusing animals. This doesn't include the ones who didn't admit it. (Schiff Louw Ascione, 1999)

Police have found animal abuse is a better predictor of whether someone will commit sexual assault than previous convictions for murder or arson. (Clarke, J. P. 2002).

71% of women in a battered women's shelter reported their abuser either abused a household pet or threatened to abuse a pet. (Ascione, 1998)

In another study 88% of child abusers also abused the animals in the home. (Ascione)