Raymone Clements, Accused Forrest the Dog Shooter, Sentenced

The man accused of chaining a dog to a tree in Forest Hill Park and shooting him was sentenced for related crimes today.

Raymone Clements, 42, of Cleveland, was convicted of being in possession of ammunition as a felon after police allege that he abused the dog in November 2012. The dog, Forrest, was adopted by Solon resident Robin Stone. 

Monday a federal judge sentenced him to serve 275 months in prison — nearly 23 years — for having ammunition as a convicted felon, our news partners at WEWS News Channel 5 report.

The animal cruelty charges against him, misdemeanors, were later dropped in lieu of federal prosecution after police found the ammunition in his home during their investigation of the shooting.

Clements has been charged with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon — charges to which he pleaded not guilty.

He is not allowed to own guns or ammunitions because he has previous convictions in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas for rape in 2006, drug trafficking in 2003 and aggravated robbery in 1991, according to his indictment.

Stone told Patch she is pleased with the outcome. She said that Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly L. Galvin kept Forrest "in the forefront of the case."

Stone also said Forrest has really found himself since his ordeal.

"He’s starting to turn a major corner and relax and be more playful," she said. "He’s really acting like a playful happy dog."