BEDFORD – A Bloomington man is facing a felony theft charge for allegedly keeping a neighbor’s valuable hunting dog.
Mark W. Smith, 56, and Penny Clark, 55, both of Bedford, are accused of exerting unauthorized control over a registered Walker Coon Hound belonging to their neighbor, John Elkins. The dog, reportedly valued at $2,500, went missing during a storm in late July and was allegedly found on the couple’s property nearly a month later.
According to an affidavit filed by Lawrence County Sheriff’s Deputy Chad Hillenburg, the incident occurred on August 22, 2024, when Elkins spotted his missing dog at Smith and Clark’s residence. The situation quickly escalated, leading to a 911 call and police intervention.
Smith and Clark claim they found the dog in poor condition and were caring for it. “The dog was skin and bones when it came to us,” Clark told investigators. The couple allegedly took the dog to a veterinarian and even kept it at Smith’s property in Monroe County for a time.
However, Elkins insists the dog was well-cared for and that he had been actively searching for his pet. He provided authorities with registration papers and evidence of social media posts reporting the dog as missing.
Clark expressed concerns about the treatment of Elkins’ other dogs, while Elkins accused the couple of previously taking another of his dogs without permission.
In his report, Deputy Hillenburg stated that he believes Smith and Clark “knowingly and intentionally exerted unauthorized control” over the dog, depriving Elkins of its use. The Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office is reviewing the case for potential Level 6 felony charges against Smith and Clark.
The Prosector’s Office issued a warrant for Mark Smith’s arrest on a theft charge.
Local authorities remind residents to report lost pets promptly and to contact animal control or law enforcement if they find stray animals rather than keeping them without attempting to locate the owners.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent unless convicted through due legal proceedings. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
