PD News

February 9, 2010

Dog cruelty trial will be delayed

Arthur Menichini’s case will follow rape trial of John Campas before Judge Lupas.

By Sheena Delazio sdelazio@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
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WILKES-BARRE – The trial of a man accused of animal cruelty in the shooting death of a dog will be delayed until later this week after a Luzerne County judge tries a rape case.

Judge David Lupas will first hear the case of John Campas, 29, of Wilkes-Barre, charged with the rape of a child after police said he sexually assaulted a 6-year-old girl from January 2006 to September 2008.

Campas’ case will be heard before that of Arthur J. Menichini, of Pittston Township, which will begin later this week, who is charged with shooting and killing a dog.

Both men are tentatively scheduled for jury trials.

Campas in June entered a not guilty plea to charges of rape of a child, unlawful contact with a minor, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, aggravated indecent assault of a child, endangering the welfare of children, corruption of minors and two counts of indecent assault.

Police said Campas sexually assaulted the girl from January 2006 to September 2008 and was the former boyfriend of the girl’s mother.

At a preliminary hearing in April, the girl used male and female dolls to show a district judge where on her body Campas allegedly assaulted her.

Campas’ attorney, Demetrius Fannick, said the girl wasn’t qualified to testify because of her age and requested that she not take the witness stand.

Menichini, 43, of Wall Street, is charged with cruelty to animals and disorderly conduct.

Menichini told police he shot the dog in April after it charged at him and his mother’s dog, Coco, a beagle mix. He said the larger dog had previously attacked Coco. He said he shot the dog once.

After seeing the dog in pain, Menichini fired another round from his gun, which he has a permit to carry, killing the canine.

Menichini’s attorney, John Terrana, previously said the charges should be dismissed because Menichini did not act in a cruel manner but rather in self-defense to protect himself and his mother’s dog.

Terrana said Marianne Zelonis should not have permitted her dog to run loose and there is no evidence Menichini acted criminally.

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