Days after the Baltimore Ravens announced they terminated his contract, nose tackle Terrence Cody, 26, was indicted by a grand jury on animal cruelty charges. He faces 15 counts, including two felony charges. Cody was released on $10,000 bail, the Baltimore Sun reports.
The most serious charge is the two felony counts of animal abuse, which allegedly resulted in the death of one of his dogs, a Bullmastiff. If convicted, Cody could face up to three years in prison and a $5,000 fine. He also faces charges for possession of drugs, illegal possession of an alligator, and neglect or abuse of the animal.
“This is a result of the NFL allowing players to be convicted before they’re tried,” Cody’s agent, Peter Schaffer, tells The Baltimore Sun. “If Terrence wasn’t a public figure, they wouldn’t have ever charged him. It’s just ridiculous. They are trying to say he wanted the dog dead, which makes no sense because he loved the dog.”
The director of communications in the Baltimore County Police Department, Elise Armacost, confirmed Cody was being investigated for animal abuse.
“He’s done nothing wrong,” Schaffer says. “This could potentially affect his career adversely, and I’m not going to let it happen. This is a quality young man who’s a true animal lover.
“He wouldn’t hurt a fly, let alone a dog.”
Cody purchased the dog for $8,000 from a breeder in Spain.
Credited with two passes deflected and 87 tackles, Cody played 57 games with the Ravens over the past five seasons.
Sources: The Baltimore Sun, ESPN
