Geneva man charged with arson and animal cruelty

The State Attorney’s Office for Seminole County has formally charged a Geneva man with arson and cruelty to animals for burning down his home with 17 dogs inside. The Seminole County Sheriff's Office arrested TERRANCE F. BANKS, 40, on Sept. 28 after he intentionally set the house ablaze, killing 15 of the dogs and badly burning two others. Many of the dogs were trapped in locked crates, a State Fire Marshal investigator found. The State Attorney’s Office charged Banks with: · One count of arson of a dwelling, a first-degree felony; · 15 counts of cruelty to animals resulting in death, pain or suffering, a third-degree felony; · Two counts of cruelty to animals resulting in pain or suffering, also a third-degree felony. Banks faces up to 115 years in prison if convicted on all counts. An attorney for the self-employed breeder entered his plea of not guilty at a Nov. 10 arraignment hearing. Banks remained held in the Seminole County Jail without bond for the arson charge pending a court-ordered mental health evaluation. Sheriff’s investigators said Banks admitted to pouring gasoline on floors throughout the house then using a lighter and a piece of paper to ignite the fire. As fire crews and sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene, Banks recorded Facebook Live videos, in which he talked about witchcraft, corruption, and getting no help with the dogs. Banks specialized in breeding “Red Lion Tri” dogs, a heavily muscled pitbull variant bred to weigh up to 150- 200 pounds, according to his Facebook page. @seminole_sherif #seminolecounty #geneva #animalcruelty #crime

— State Attorney 18th Circuit FL (@SA18PIO) November 10, 2026