Peabody Man Out On Bail For Animal Abuse Charges Arrested Again

PEABODY, MA – Mass. State Police and Peabody Police arrested a man who is proceeding through a separate trial for allegedly beating a puppy in Peabody. The Commonwealth will seek to have his bail revoked after two separate incidents regarding a larceny and firearms charges.

John Leger, 32, of Peabody, was arrested on a warrant for larceny while out on bail for unrelated animal cruelty charges. Salem and Peabody police departments sought a warrant for Leger regarding a larceny on an unspecified date.

A Mass. State Police blog post on Monday said Leger was arrested on animal cruelty charges, but Essex County District Attorney Spokesperson Carrie Kimball-Monahan noted that's an error, and the warrant was for larceny charges. Leger was arrested for animal cruelty charges previously.

Earlier this year, Leger was indicted for severe physical abuse of a puppy, and threats he made to bystanders who tried to intervene to stop him. The Animal Rescue League of Boston took custody of the puppy – named Bryson – following the incident.

Police and state troopers set up surveillance early Friday morning at a residence on Woodbridge Road where Leger was thought to be staying. When Leger left the house, officers arrested him, and found a loaded .45 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun.

Officers also found Leger was living with someone who has a dog, which violates another term of his bail. As a result, the Commonwealth will seek to revoke Leger's bail.

The Essex County District Attorney’s Office indicted Leger in Essex Superior Court on Feb. 22, for animal cruelty and witness intimidation. The date of the original incident wasn't immediately available.

Leger was also charged with carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, unlawful possession of ammunition; committing a firearm violation while having committed three prior violent or drug crimes, and operating a motor vehicle after his license was revoked for being a habitual traffic offender.

Patch originally reported that Leger was arrested on an animal cruelty warrant, reflecting the statement from Mass. State Police. We apologize for the error – the animal cruelty charges stem from an incident earlier this year, separate from the larceny warrant served on Friday.

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