Warrant issued in animal cruelty case

NEWKIRK — Warrants are issued by the Kay County District Court for Kelsey Lee Nichols, 31, Ponca City, who is charged with a felony count of cruelty to animals.

Ponca City police report that on Aug. 21, an officer responded to a residence in the 800 block of N. Osage regarding animal abuse.

The resident told police that his Husky was acting scared around Nichols, who was staying at the residence. 

The resident told police he reviewed security footage and saw that Nichols kicked his dog and that the dog ran away yelping. Police report that a subject can be heard on the video stating, “You kicked the dog hard.”

Nichols reportedly admitted in a message to the dog’s owner that he kicked the dog.

Police were not able to obtain a statement from Nichols. The charge was filed on Dec. 2 and the warrant issued with bond endorsed at $2,500.

Nichols criminal record includes  possession for forged instruments and possession of meth filed on March 15, 2018. He was convicted and sentenced to a seven year deferred sentence in that case on Jan. 6, 2020.

A felony charge of falsely personate another to create liability was filed on  June 17, 2019. He entered a no contest plea in that case and sentencing was scheduled for Nov. 21, 2022. He failed to appear and a warrant with bond set at $10,000 is issued.

Nichols last known address is listed on Joe Street.

Anyone with information on his location is asked to contact law enforcement.