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Ex-Pennsboro police chief pleads guilty to animal cruelty charge

Snuffer no longer part of department

Then-Pennsboro Police Chief Travis Snuffer and police dog Judge are shown after the department received a $750 grant for a new bulletproof vest for the dog. Snuffer recently pleaded guilty to an animal cruelty charge after he left the dog locked in his cruiser on a hot morning in June. (File Photo)

PENNSBORO — A former police chief in Ritchie County recently pleaded guilty to a charge of leaving his police dog locked in a cruiser on a hot day.

According to a release from the Doddridge County Prosecutor’s Office, Travis Snuffer, 37, of West Union, pleaded guilty July 30 to a charge of animal cruelty while appearing in the county’s Magistrate Court for a scheduled pre-trial hearing.

Snuffer was chief of the Pennsboro Police Department at the time of the incident, but a city official said Wednesday that he “no longer works here.”

According to a criminal complaint, Snuffer left police K-9 Judge in his vehicle on June 20 with the doors locked and windows rolled up. The prosecutor’s release said it happened in the morning and temperatures reached 85 to 90 degrees outside.

Snuffer is due to be sentenced on Oct. 16. As part of a plea agreement, the state agreed to recommend 90 days in jail and that that sentence be suspended in favor of probation and a fine, provided Snuffer’s psychological evaluation comes back favorably, the release said.

Under state code, people convicted of animal cruelty must forfeit animals seized as part of the investigation and cannot own or possess an animal for five years following their conviction.

The release said a veterinarian examined Judge and found no indication of lasting neurological or other damage as a result of the incident. Snuffer gave custody of his animals to “an agreed upon and appropriate placement,” the release said, and will remain with those custodians.

Pennsboro Recorder Vickie Gowins said she was not at liberty to discuss the circumstances of Snuffer’s departure from the police department. The Ritchie Gazette has reported he was “let go” following an executive session at a Pennsboro City Council meeting in July.

Gowins said there is no interim chief at this time.

“The (Ritchie County) sheriff’s department and (the city’s) part-time police are taking care of us right now,” she said.

Snuffer could not be reached for comment Wednesday, and his attorney did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com

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