Long Island mom demands attempted murder charges for her dogs killed in an arson: ‘He's still walking free'
Ariana Belfort, 38, stood outside Nassau County Court Monday barking for justice for Jameson and Jack, her two dogs brutally murdered in an arson started by her downstairs neighbor, Jahan Kia.
Belfort was joined by friends, animal rights activists and state Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz, with many adorning signs and t-shirts that read 'Justice for Jameson and Jack.'
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6 Ariana Belfort, 38, stood outside Nassau County Court Monday barking for justice for Jameson and Jack.
Dennis A. Clark
The lawmaker not only backed Belfort's calls to add attempted murder and two animal cruelty charges to Kia's rap sheet, but announced he would be introducing a statewide bill that would make murdering animals a felony that could carry a life sentence.
'[Kia] shouldn't be in more trouble for destroying drywall than he is for killing a loved one,' Blumencranz, an Oyster Bay Republican, told The Post. 'Real human and animal lives have been destroyed.
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6 Mugshot of Jahan Kia, arrested for arson.
Nassau County Police Dept
'Now we need to make sure we see justice for everyone involved.'
The Animal Justice Act would make murdering man's best friend, or any animal, a Class A felony that could bring with it 25 years to life in prison — legislation that Belfort, a mother of three, wholeheartedly supports.
6 Jameson and Jack fatally burned in a blaze allegedly set by Jahan Kia.
Dennis A. Clark
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'If someone is capable of murdering an animal, they are certainly capable of murdering a human,' she said, adding that killing pets is how most serial killers start their murderous tendencies.
In May, Kia, 40, was arrested for allegedly setting the Plainview home — he lived in an illegal basement apartment — on fire killing Belfort's two dogs and at least one of his own cats.
The blaze took 100 firefighters from six departments to get under control. Kia was charged with arson, criminal mischief and just one count of animal cruelty — despite allegedly killing three animals.
6 The Animal Justice Act would make murdering man's best friend, or any animal, a Class A felony that could bring with it 25 years to life in prison.
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'He's still walking free,' Belfort said outside the court where Kia was scheduled to appear that morning.
'He admitted he set the fire on the house, he admitted he did it on purpose, and he admitted he thought we were inside at the time he started the fire.'
Belfort claimed Kia, who she barley knew, has shown no remorse. She also shared a recent Facebook post by Kia that showed a cat laying on top of a pair of brass knuckles, which are illegal in New York state.
6 Belfort was joined by friends, animal rights activists and state Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz.
Dennis A. Clark
In late June, the Nassau Legislature voted to expand the county's 2014 animal-abuse law to make it a misdemeanor for anyone who harms a pet, doubling time on the registry and upping punishments to potential jail time and a $1,000 fine for abusers.
And following Monday's rally at the courthouse, Nassau DA Anne Donnelly told The Post she is considering tacking on additional charges.
6 In late June, the Nassau Legislature voted to expand the county's 2014 animal-abuse law to make it a misdemeanor for anyone who harms a pet.
'This was a shocking, senseless act, and my office is considering upgrading the charges in this matter,' Donnelly said in a statement. 'It is endlessly frustrating that defendants who commit arson or kill innocent animals can walk free without my prosecutors ever having the opportunity to ask for bail.
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'I am committed to holding defendants accountable for crimes against innocent, defenseless animals.'
Gov. Kathy Hochul's office did not respond to The Post's request for comment on Blumencranz's proposal legislation.
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