By the Marysville Journal-Tribune & Examiner staffs
(PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MARYSVILLE JOURNAL-TRIBUNE)
The trial of a former animal rights activist nears its conclusion in Union County Common Pleas Court three-plus years after the self-proclaimed pit bull rehabilitation expert was indicted on more than 40 charges including cruelty to animals.
Steffen Baldwin, 40, is charged with over 40 charges, including cruelty to animals, and faces a reckoning for alleged deceit and abuse. If convicted, Baldwin could spend the rest of his life in prison.
Baldwin, who once styled himself as a celebrity animal rights activist, now stands accused of heinous crimes, including cruelty to animals, bribery, telecommunications fraud, tampering with records, grand theft of a firearm, and grand theft.
Baldwin is the former chief humane agent for the Union County Humane Society.
He also previously served as a board member for the Humane Society Serving Logan County and a former director for the Top of Ohio Pet Shelter, which closed in 2016 due to financial constraints. Baldwin helped conduct internal investigations at the Top of Ohio Pet Shelter of two former executive directors accused of impropriety.
Ultimately though, Logan County Commissioners at the time determined the Logan County shelter could not be trusted with additional funding to continue operating because the board, including Baldwin, could not be relied upon to show an accurate accounting of the funding.
Get the entire story in Saturday’s Examiner.