Cape man suspected of abuse pleads innocent

A Cape Girardeau man whose arrest in September caught the attention of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has pleaded innocent to four felonies relating to domestic violence and escape from custody and a misdemeanor charge of animal abuse.

Appearing before Judge William Syler Monday in Division I of Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court, Paul Clifton Oakley, 43, has been charged with first-degree domestic assault, second-degree domestic assault, third-degree domestic assault and escape from custody, in addition to the animal abuse. His next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 6. A trial date has not been set.

Oakley remains in the Cape Girardeau County Jail.

He was arrested Sept. 16 after a witness walking past Oakley's Themis Street residence saw him grab his 18-year-old live-in girlfriend by the neck and drag her into the house. Oakley allegedly continued to choke the woman once he got her inside.

According to police reports, Oakley repeatedly hit the woman in her right side knowing that she had lacerated her liver during an accident in late June.

The day he was arrested, police said, Oakley threw the woman's pet kitten out the door and then slapped the woman in the face. After she ran outside to rescue the cat, police said, Oakley threw something at the kitten while the woman was holding it, causing the kitten to jump to the ground. He then roughly grabbed the cat and threw it, threatening to kill it to make the woman come back into the house, police said. They said he continued to assault her until they arrived.

Oakley was released on bond. The victim of the alleged assault applied for and was granted an order of protection against him. Court records show Oakley has a history of abuse and several orders of protection against him.

Letter from PETA

On Oct. 6, PETA appealed to Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle to "vigorously prosecute" Oakley, claiming a connection between crimes against animals and domestic violence. In addition to prison time, PETA recommended "that Paul Oakley be required to undergo a thorough psychological evaluation followed by mandatory counseling and anger-management classes at his own expense."

PETA also advised that Oakley be barred from all future contact with animals and that any who remain in his charge be immediately seized.

When he appeared in court Oct. 8 for a preliminary hearing before Judge Gary A. Kamp, the judge revoked his bond, and Oakley fled from court. He was found within an hour hiding in a doghouse behind a residence on Bast Street in Jackson.

The woman and her cat are in a safe location, Swingle said.

lredeffer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160