Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Man Accused of Sexually Abusing Snowball The Dog
By
Ben Yakas
Published Oct 23, 2010
Modified Oct 23, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Oct 23, 2010
Modified Oct 23, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A Long Island man is accused of taking the term pet lover way too far: landlord Mitchell Marsicano was allegedly caught sneaking into his neighbor's apartment and sexually abusing his pet dog, Snowball. Did he also inadvertantly put his fingers inside the dog?
Mitchell Marsicano, 55, pleaded not guilty in court yesterday to charges of misdemeanor sexual abuse of an animal and felony burglary. According to Nassau County prosecutors, Marsicano illegally entered the apartment of one of his tenants and was caught by the owner sexually abusing the dog (who is either a 2- or 4-year-old 23-pound male Shiba Inu). Marsicano denied the allegations and countered that the tenant, Daniel Miller, hadn't paid his rent (...and therefore was accusing him of molesting a dog?). According to CBS, "the dog was examined at a nearby animal hospital and showed signs of trauma."
And as you can see by his mug shot (and in a larger shot on Newsday), he's a Jets fan. Sigh: would Rex Ryan approve of such behavior?
Tagged
dogs
jets
long island
mitchell marsicano
pet abuse
snowball
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Man shot by ICE in NYC still has bullet lodged in neck, attorneys say
Oscar Belgal, a 28-year-old immigrant from the Dominican Republic, was in solitary confinement at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Sunset Park on Monday.
By
Liam Quigley
Published Oct 12, 2026 at 11:37 a.m. ET
NY measles spread prompts 'disaster' emergency. It didn't have to be this way, health commissioner says.
The state health commissioner says the disease outbreak is wholly preventable.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
News
NY measles spread prompts 'disaster' emergency. It didn't have to be this way, health commissioner says.
The state health commissioner says the disease outbreak is wholly preventable.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
NYC wants to move deliveries onto the waterways. It's starting with a 55-year-old boat.
By
Liam Quigley
Inside the luxury Greenpoint high-rise powered by a rumbling generator for over a month
By
David Brand
Mayor Mamdani orders review of NYPD use of force policies
By
Michael Sol Warren
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .