The father of former Ohio States and current Dallas Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott, Stacy Elliott, is facing 21 charges in connection to a serval (wild cat) found loose in Canal Winchester (Ohio) in October.
Stacy Elliott is also known as Stacy El-Muhammad.
In October, the Ohio Department of Agriculture executed a search warrant at his home in connection with the serval that was killed by Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office deputies Oct. 13.
The cat was identified by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources as a species of wild cat native to Africa. Servals stand about a foot tall and have small heads, large ears, spotted and striped coats, long legs and black-tipped tails.
Eight of the nine charges are first-degree misdemeanors. El-Muhammad also faces 12 other charges from other involved agencies.
Under state law, it’s a first-degree misdemeanor to have a wild animal without a permit, and a fifth-degree felony to intentionally release an exotic animal and allow it to escape. A first-degree misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.