CLEARFIELD — A protest by an animal rescue group has led to the upholding of the conviction of a Mahaffey man accused of being involved in the shooting of a dog last November.

More than a dozen Animals Matter members protested outside the Clearfield County Courthouse with signs reading “Justice for Duke” to show their displeasure in a plea deal that would drop criminal charges against Ricky Allen Daisher, 60, of Mahaffey and would grant him probation. -only one sentence.

At the sentencing hearing, Heather Hoover, chair of the group, addressed presiding Judge Fredric J. Ammerman, explaining their frustration in the case.

She recounted how Duke was found lying in the grass in Greenwood Township with his mouth closed and suffering from a gunshot wound. The bullet bounced off his skull before hitting his jaw and ear. He suffered for 21 hours before being found and rushed to an emergency veterinary hospital.

For two days he was in and out of consciousness, she said. Ultimately, the medical team at Metzger Animal Hospital in State College had to make the decision whether to put him down or transfer him to a facility in Pittsburgh.

The group decided “he deserved a chance” and took him to Pittsburgh where he began to recover. Animals Matter members who followed his saga on Facebook raised more than $12,000 for his care.

Hoover disputed claims by the former owner, Nichole Daisher, that the dog was aggressive, pointing out that the dog was also emaciated and malnourished.

The probable cause affidavit says Duke was shot by a juvenile, who was also charged in the case.

Referring to Ricky Daisher, Hoover said that “he may not have done it, but he could have stopped it.”

The new owners saw no signs of aggression from Duke, now known as Goldie, she said.

She stressed that while the consequences of such animal cruelty are minimal, it “only shows that it is acceptable to mistreat an animal.”

First Assistant District Attorney F. Cortez “Chip” Bell explained to Ammerman that it would be difficult to prosecute the case because the act was committed in secret with only three people involved, all of whom are charged with the crime .

Ammerman agreed that if the case went to court, Nichole Daisher could not be forced to testify. He asked if prosecutor Ryan Sayers had spoken with the group, and Bell said the plea was his decision and he stood by it. Although he was not directly involved, he said Sayers approved it.

Ammerman, saying there aren’t many protests in criminal cases, decided to continue with Daisher’s sentencing so he could review medical records and police reports.

Daisher’s defense attorney, Robbie Taylor, agreed to the continued sentence on December 9.

In the criminal complaint, it is explained how Nichole Daisher handed the dog over to the rescue organization. The investigation revealed cellphone information that she traveled from her home at 6:07 p.m. on Nov. 23 to where Duke was found and then returned home.

When she was interviewed by police on December 19, she claimed Duke had jumped on another of her dogs and then lunged at her child.

After that, she contacted her father saying she didn’t know what to do. The trio allegedly took the dog to Steep Hill Road in Greenwood Township, where it was shot and killed.

During his interview with police, the juvenile stated that it was Nichole Daisher who said Duke should go and tie Duke’s snout with the shoelace. He admitted to intentionally shooting the animal with a gun provided by Ricky Daisher, according to the probable cause affidavit.

When he spoke with investigators, Ricky Daisher admitted to taking the dog into the woods and seeing the juvenile shoot it once. After the dog fell and shook, he said he thought the dog was “finished.”

They fled after hearing a car approaching them.

Nichole Daisher’s case is still pending.