A former veterinary assistant

who used to work at Fayette Animal Hospital in Fayetteville has been arrested

for administering pet medications to his wife at their north Fayette home,

actions which investigators believe may have caused permanent physical

damage.

Richard Kinnard, 35, of a Fairburn

address in north Fayette County, gave his wife ketamine, telazol and morphine,

according to warrants for his arrest issued by the Fayette County Sheriff's

Department. The drugs rendered Charis Kennard "in a state of partial

blindness with uncontrollable shaking," warrants said.

"We feel he forced some

of these on her," said Lt. Mahlon Donald of the sheriff's department.

"He had an IV hooked up to her at one point."

According to warrants, various

pet medications found in Richard Kennard's possession were originally

stolen from two animal clinics in north Atlanta.

The incident was originally

reported to authorities by doctors at Southern Regional Medical Center

as they began treating Mrs. Kinnard, Donald said. Detectives pieced clues

together from Charis Kennard's statements as she drifted in and out of

consciousness at the hospital, Donald added.

"The doctors hadn't seen

reactions to drugs like she was having," Donald said. "They

hoped we could help find him (Kinnard) and discover what she had taken."

Richard Kinnard is charged

with aggravated battery, three felony counts of possession of a controlled

substance, five counts of theft by receiving stolen property, three misdemeanor

counts of possession of a dangerous drug and one count of possession of

a firearm by a convicted felon.

Mrs. Kinnard has been released

from the hospital but faces injuries to her eyesight and a shaking condition

that may be permanent, Lt. Donald said.

Mrs. Kinnard had been taking

regular pain medication for a condition called ulcerative colitis, Donald

said, adding that he is unsure whether her husband was trying to treat

her pain with the medication.

The case is still under investigation

and other related charges are pending, Donald said.

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