TOMS RIVER MAN SENTENCED IN DEATH OF MOCHA
Toms River, N.J. – Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato today announced the sentencing by Judge James M. Blaney, J.S.C. of Clifford Robbins, 76, of Toms River, NJ, in the death of Mocha. The case was prosecuted by Assistant Ocean County Prosecutor Heidi Tannenbaum-Newman.
Prosecutor Coronato stated, “I commend Assistant Prosecutor Tannenbaum-Newman’s efforts in assuring Robbins was prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The successful conviction of Robbins to the charge of Third Degree Cruelty to Animals is the highest degree statute possible by law within the state of New Jersey.
Under the terms of the sentence, Robbins will serve two (2) years of probation, 30 hours of community service, submit to mental health counseling, surrendered his pet cat to a local animal rescue group and waive his right to ever own any companion pet for the rest of his life.
The sentencing stems from an April 14, 2014 call for police response in reference the death of Clifford Robbins’ dog Mocha. Arriving officers found Mocha dead within a sealed animal travel carrier which had been connected by a hose to the exhaust of Robbins’ vehicle.
On May 7, 2014, officials from the NJSPCA brought the case to the attention of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office seeking legal advice regarding how to proceed with the investigation and whether charges were appropriate. The prosecutor’s office immediately directed that a necropsy be conducted and opened its own investigation regarding the events surrounding Mocha’s death.
Robbins was subsequently indicted in connection with his involvement in Mocha’s death on August 21, 2014. On that August morning, members of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and NJSPCA, assisted by the Toms River Police Department, responded to Robbins’ Toms River residence and served him with his arrest warrant for the above charge.
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