A third teenager faces animal cruelty charges involving the torture and killing last spring of a guinea pig in Grosse Ile, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office announced Tuesday.
Grosse Ile High School
The 16-year-old, who was on the Grosse Ile High School lacrosse team, is accused of stabbing the guinea pig with a knife April 30 during a team meeting before a game. The boy’s name was not released, and he is to be charged in juvenile court, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Tanner Coolsaet.
Tanner Coolsaet, 18, and Michael Roth, 17, the other two lacrosse players accused, were charged as adults with two counts each of felony animal cruelty — killing or torturing animals and conspiracy to kill or torture animals. Both are free on $5,000 personal bond and are scheduled for a preliminary examination at 1 p.m. Aug. 15 in Woodhaven District Court.
They’re accused of bringing a box with the animal inside to a team meeting at 11:30 a.m. April 30 before a lacrosse game. The 16-year-old is set for a pretrial conference at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 11 at the Lincoln Hall of Justice in Detroit.
Michael Roth.
“The alleged facts in this case illustrate much more than a youthful prank or a pregame antic. We must take these cases seriously,” Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a previous news release.
Contact Robert Allen @rallenMI or rallen@freepress.com.