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The man who investigators say abused a dog that has since become a mascot for the Lee County Sheriff’s Office was found guilty Thursday of one count of aggravated animal cruelty.

Oscar Lee Thompson III, 19, was found guilty of the third degree felony charge following a one-day trial in Lee County court.

The dog, named Chance by his rescuers, has recovered from the abuse. He was later “adopted” by the Sheriff’s Office, “deputized” as “Deputy Chance” and is now part of the Sheriff Office’s Community Relations Bureau.

A Lee County Domestic Animal Services Animal Control Officer found the dog after a Feb. 26 complaint about a stray dog in a person’s backyard in Lehigh Acres with a wide band of red tape securing its mouth closed.

The officer found the dog in respiratory distress with a bleeding wound on its upper forearm leaving it unable to use the leg to support weight.

The officer had to carry the dog to his vehicle to have an emergency evaluation by a veterinarian at Animal Services.

The dog was determined to be about a one-year-old Florida Cur mix breed.

Previously: Lehigh Acres man charged in aggravated animal abuse of ‘Deputy Chance’

Plus More: Dog found roaming Lehigh Acres with his muzzle taped shut with red electrical tape

The wound on the dog’s foreleg was believed to be a puncture wound likely caused by another dog or an object within a few days before being found.

The tape around Chance’s mouth was collected by a Sheriff’s Office crime scene technician and provided the clues to link to the person who abused him. 

Chance’s story was widely circulated, and a tip to Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers led an animal control detective to Thompson as a person of interest.

More like this: Owner found guilty of aggravated animal cruelty after dog found tied at Lehigh Acres home

Thompson admitted knowing of the dog and claimed to have only known it as a stray that would come to his house occasionally. He denied knowledge of the animal cruelty.

Thompson was arrested after personal evidence in the form of swabs and fingerprints taken from him later came back with a match on a fingerprint and a DNA profile link from the tape.

“What was done to Chance was not only a violation of Florida law but also morally unconscionable. This young dog was harmed, left with no defenses and then let go to wander in pain, State Attorney Amira Fox said. “Animal abuse, when the law and evidence supports the crime, will be prosecuted.” 

Connect with breaking news reporter Michael Braun: MichaelBraunNP (Facebook), @MichaelBraunNP (Twitter) or mbraun@news-press.com.

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