R&B singer Jaheim Hoagland charged with animal cruelty after dogs found in water-filled crates

HILLSBOROUGH – A nationally known R&B singer known as Jaheim is facing an animal cruelty charge after police found six dogs Monday in partially water-filled animal crates in the driveway of a New Jersey residence and nine more dogs inside the house in varying stages of emaciation, without access to food and water, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael Robertson said.

One mixed-breed Pitbull Terrier was euthanized, and the other 14 dogs were examined and released to Long Hill Kennel in the township, the prosecutor said.

Jaheim H. Hoagland, 44, was charged with third-degree animal cruelty and failure to provide necessary care to an animal, a disorderly persons offense. He was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a Superior Court detention hearing.

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The investigation

According to the prosecutor, police responded to the home off River Road in the South Branch section at about 9:16 a.m. Monday on a report of a puppy in distress.

Police officers found six dogs in separate animal crates in the driveway of the home. One of the dogs was initially unresponsive in a water-filled crate and had to be euthanized, Robertson said.

Additional dogs were found inside of separate crates which were partially filled with several inches of water and dog feces, the prosecutor said.

While caring for the dogs in the driveway, the township police officers heard barking from inside the house. Nine more dogs were found in the in varying stages of emaciation, without access to food and water, Robertson said.

Two of the recovered dogs were brought to AnimERge veterinarian for emergency treatment due to their poor condition, the prosecutor said.

At total of 12 mixed-breed Pitbull Terriers, two American Staffordshire Terriers, and one mixed-breed Boxer were recovered, Robertson said.

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Hoagland was also placed under arrest for an unrelated Somerset County Violation of Probation Warrant, along with two active municipal court warrants from Hillsborough and Newark.

The Somerset County Chief Humane Law Enforcement Officer from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office also responded to the scene.

The incident remains under investigation by the Hillsborough Township Police Department and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Chief Humane Officer at 908-575-3353 or the Hillsborough Township Police Department at 908-369-4323 or via the STOPit app. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

The suspect

Hoagland, who was once compared to Luther Vandross, was born in New Brunswick, the grandson of Hoagy Lands, who sang with many groups, including The Drifters. He has sold 5 million records worldwide and has received three Grammy nominations.

Hoagland was the "male voice of Mary Jane Blige," one critic said.

He was signed to a record deal in 2001 and his first album "Ghetto Love" in 2001 and his second album "Still Ghetto," released in 2002, and contained the singles "Put That Woman First" and "Fabulous," which both reached platinum level. His third album, "Ghetto Classics," released in 2006, debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, and selling more than 153,000 copies in its first week. His seventh album, "Struggle Love," was released in 2016.

In 1996 Hoagland was sentenced to five years’ probation after he pleaded guilty in Middlesex County Superior Court to charge of possession of drugs with intent to distribute.

In 2019, he pleaded guilty in Somerset County Superior Court to a disorderly conduct charge, downgraded from a weapons charge after an arrest in 2017. He was fined $200.

In February, Hoagland was charged with not paying $244,805.30 in federal taxes and penalties in 2008.

A default was entered against him in federal court on Aug. 25 when he failed to answer the charge.

Court papers say process servers could not locate Hoagland to serve the complaint on him. Neighbors to the process server that they had not seen anyone at the home for a time and the resident might be in the process of moving out.

The 3.2-acre property on Chamberlain Drive is assessed at $814,200.

Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com

Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: R&B singer Jaheim charged with animal cruelty after starving 15 dogs