Two students from the University of Georgia were charged with committing felony animal cruelty for allegedly beating it with a stick, and for inflicting severe pain on the animal. The actions of the stick caused disfigurement to the opossum’s head and eye by beating it with a stick.
The District Attorney’s Office was unsuccessful in seeking justice for the abused opossum. Instead, at least one one student had the felony charges dismissed in exchange for a plea to disorderly conduct. The other student’s felony charge was also dismissed, but it remains unclear if he was required to accept any accountability.