Former Humane Agent Sentenced to Over 15 Years for Animal Cruelty and Fraudulent Pet Rehabilitation Scheme
Steffen Baldwin, the former executive director of the Union County Humane Society, has been sentenced to 15½ years in prison after being convicted of a disturbing scheme that exploited pet owners and rescue groups. Baldwin, 44, promised to rehabilitate dogs or find them new homes for a fee, but instead kept the payments for personal gain and euthanized the animals without permission.
Baldwin was found guilty of 32 charges, including animal cruelty, theft, bribery, and other serious offenses, following a January 2024 trial. In addition to his lengthy prison sentence, Baldwin is permanently banned from owning or caring for any animals.
Presenting himself as a compassionate dog lover with a 99% success rate in rehabilitating challenging dogs, Baldwin lured pet owners and rescue groups into trusting him. However, he never fulfilled his promises. Instead, he lied about the status of the animals in his care, often claiming they were doing well, when in reality, he had them euthanized. Many of these dogs were perfectly healthy, but Baldwin misled their owners for months, leaving them in the dark.
One heartbreaking case involved Remi, a 3-year-old pit bull. The Kargakos family from No Fear Rescue entrusted Baldwin with Remi, who had been labeled a “dangerous dog” after two bite incidents. Baldwin assured them that he could remove this designation for $1,000. However, after receiving the payment and taking Remi into his custody, Baldwin made no effort to follow through on his promise and, instead, euthanized the dog in December 2016, falsely claiming Remi had been severely injured in a dog fight.
Baldwin also deceived the Blue Chip Rescue group regarding a dog named Gucci, telling them that Gucci was happily adopted when, in fact, the dog had been euthanized months earlier.
Arrested in August 2020, Baldwin faced 42 felony charges related to the deaths of at least 18 dogs. He will serve time in prison and remain under post-release control (parole) for up to five years upon his release.
This case serves as a grim reminder of the importance of trusting responsible, transparent animal care professionals and the devastating consequences of exploitation in the pet care industry.
Follow Dalmar TV on Facebook for the Latest News
