UNION COUNTY – A former animal rights activist and one-time executive director of the Logan County animal shelter has been sentenced to 15 and a half years in prison following his conviction on multiple charges, including animal cruelty and fraud.
Steffen Baldwin, 41, was sentenced Thursday, March 13, in Union County Common Pleas Court, where Judge Don Fraser also imposed an indefinite ban on Baldwin owning companion animals. Baldwin will not be eligible for release before serving at least seven years and nine months.
Baldwin, who previously held leadership roles at the Top of Ohio Pet Shelter in Logan County and the Union County Humane Society, was convicted of a range of offenses, including bribery, telecommunications fraud, tampering with records, grand theft of a firearm and grand theft.
Prosecutors argued that Baldwin, who once presented himself as a champion for animal welfare, instead used his position to deceive donors and needlessly euthanize dogs while continuing to solicit funds for their care.
Throughout the trial, which lasted several weeks, the prosecution painted Baldwin as a manipulative figure who misled supporters into believing he was rescuing and rehabilitating dogs. Instead, prosecutors said, he euthanized at least eight dogs to make space for others he was paid to train. They also alleged that Baldwin continued to raise money for dogs that had already been put down, exploiting the trust of donors and pet owners.
Witnesses testified about incidents of aggressive dogs being left unrehabilitated, fatal dog fights, and Baldwin’s alleged purchase of a firearm to shoot one of the dogs in his care. The case was further complicated by delays due to changes in Baldwin’s legal representation, health concerns, and alleged bond violations.
Union County prosecutors argued that Baldwin’s actions were not just about animal cruelty but also financial fraud, contending that he used donations meant for animal welfare as his “personal ATM.”
In delivering the sentence, Judge Fraser emphasized the severity of Baldwin’s crimes, noting that his position of trust made his actions particularly egregious.
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