Hamilton Shelter Director Charged After 300 Cats, Dogs Euthanized

HAMILTON, NJ — The director of the Hamilton Township Animal Shelter was charged with animal cruelty and official misconduct by a Mercer County grand jury on Wednesday after more than 300 animals were prematurely euthanized, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office reported.

Jeff Plunkett, 63, of Hamilton, who also served as the township's director of health, was indicted on two counts of third-degree animal cruelty and one count of second-degree official misconduct.

Plunkett was charged in May along with Todd Bencivengo, 57, of North Hanover who is the former supervisor of the Hamilton Township Animal Shelter. The incident allegedly happened at the Hamilton Township Animal Shelter.

The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Humane Law Enforcement Unit (HLEU) began investigating the shelter after two complaints were reported in August 2018.

The investigation began in August 2018 when authorities received two complaints by way of the state Division of Criminal Justice.

It was discovered that, between January 2016 and October 2018, about 236 cats and 93 dogs were euthanized before the animals were offered up for adoption, according to the MCPO. The state's minimum length is seven days.

There was insufficient evidence to establish any additional criminal charges even though the MCPO "uncovered multiple examples" of mismanagement.

Bencivengo was accepted into the pretrial intervention program on Oct. 23.

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