Spencer Heintz is a resident of Palmetto, Florida. In July, 2017 Spencer Heintz, Michael Wenzel, Robert Lee "Bo" Benac, and Nicholas Burns Easterling were seen on video dragging a shark behind a boat at high speed. In December 2017 Heintz, Wenzel, and Benac were indicted on multiple charges of animal cruelty. In May 2018 all charges were dropped against Heintz. ^{[undefined] [undefined]}

Spencer Heintz is the son of prominent lawyer Steven Heintz, Managing Partner of Heintz & Becker, a personal injury plaintiff's law firm. ^[undefined] His mom, Dr. Joan Blackford-Heintz, is a Chiropractor.

On July 24, 2017 Spencer and three other young men, Michael Wenzel, Robert Lee "Bo" Benac, and Nicholas Burns Easterling posted a video of themselves dragging a shark behind their speed boat. Wenzel was the captain of the boat while Benac filmed the video. ^{[undefined] [undefined] [undefined]}

On Tuesday December 12, 2017, Spencer Heintz, Michael Wenzel, and Robert Lee "Bo" Benac, and were all charged with two counts of aggravated animal cruelty a third degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. In addition to the felony charges, Wenzel and Benac face misdemeanor charges of illegal method of take- shark, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500. ^[undefined]

On Tuesday, May 1, 2018 a Hillsborough County, Florida judge dropped both of the aggravated animal cruelty charges against Heintz. ^[undefined]

According to the judge, the state dropped the charges because no evidence showed that Heintz, broke the law and because he agreed to testify as a witness. ^[undefined]

"It was a good day for him and a good day for justice as well.

The right decision was made," said Heintz' attorney Paul Sisco.

"There was four gentlemen were on the boat.

The State Attorney's Office was willing to when they looked at all the facts and the case law and it was clear there was different roles of the four men in the boat, there was."

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