R&B Singer Jaheim was arrested after more than 12 dogs were found subjected to deplorable living conditions at his home in New Jersey. One of the dogs was euthanized, according to officials.
The 44-year-old artist, Jaheim Hoagland, was charged with third-degree animal cruelty and failure to provide necessary care to an animal, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office said in a press release.
Officers from the Hillsborough Township Police Department responded to a report of “a puppy in distress” at the singer’s residence and discovered 6 dogs in separate animal crates on the property’s driveway, according to prosecutors.
Officials said in the press release that the animals were inside crates “partially filled with several inches of water and dog feces,” and one dog was unresponsive.
Hoagland was previously arrested on an unrelated matter outside of his home when police found 9 dogs that were in “varying stages of emaciation, without access to food and water” inside his residence, prosecutors said.
In all, authorities recovered 12 mixed-breed pit bull terriers, two American Staffordshire terriers, and one mixed-breed boxer.
The dog that was found unresponsive in the crate, a mixed-breed pit bull terrier, had to be euthanized, according to officials, and two other animals were taken to a veterinarian for emergency treatment.
All 14 dogs were taken to a local kennel for examination while investigation continues.
Hoagland has been reportedly booked into Somerset County Jail, pending a court hearing. It’s not clear if he has engaged the services of an attorney who will speak on his behalf.
Hoagland burst into the music scene with his debut album, Ghetto Love, released in 2001. He followed-up with Still Ghetto, saw notable hits such as “Fabulous” and “Put That Woman First.”
