Alert 3/20/08     Court Watch Catch Up and More

 

1. Good news at the trial of Mathias Acholi in Fredericksburg on Tuesday, 3/18/08

 

With a well-planned case, Commonwealth Attorney Charles Sharp received a verdict of guilty; the counts were cruelty to animals, reckless handling of a firearm, and discharging a firearm in public. Mr. Acholi, while a security guard at an apartment complex in Fredericksburg, shot and killed Socks, a 7-year-old boxer owned by Barbara Krech. Although Mr. Acholi claimed the dog was aggressive, a witness testified the dog was not showing any signs of aggression and, in fact, was urinating when shot. A trail of blood starting at the place where the dog was urinating clinched the verdict.

 

The sentencing will be on 5/2/08. The jury recommended 90 days in jail.

 

This case shows what can happen when animal cruelty is viewed as a serious offense.

 

Maureen Federico, the Editor of Court Watch, attended the entire trial. We were there to hear the opening arguments by Mr. Sharp and the defense attorney, John O. Iweanoge. We were impressed by Mr. Sharp’s plainspoken and descriptive presentation, and the way he engaged with the jury.

 

Please consider letting Mr. Sharp know you appreciate his commitment to animal cruelty prevention and the result of his work. His email: cssharp@fredericksburgva.gov. His phone: 540-372-1040.

 

Remember that Commonwealth Attorneys are elected. If you want to let Mr. Sharp’s fellow Commonwealth Attorneys know of your interest in and respect for such commitment, please contact your Commonwealth Attorney, (go the county/city website) saying you want that same commitment in your locality. Consider saying the same thing to your local Board of Supervisors.

 

 

2. Change of schedule

 

We came close to being able to watch Caroline County Commonwealth Attorney Tony Spencer prosecute another animal cruelty case again on this Friday, 3/21/08.

 

However, the trial of Adbul Madyun will now take place on April 11. More on that later.

 

 

3. Commonwealth Attorney conference

 

On 4/8/08, Jill Deegan, the Asst. Commonwealth Attorney for Botetourt County will be doing a half-day session on animal law for Commonwealth Attorneys, this at the Commonwealth Attorney Spring Conference in Norfolk.

 

We hope to have a table there to pass out some VVAW flyers (and also hear Ms Deegan). If you are interested in helping at the table and hearing her, please let us know.

 

 

4. If Virginia had more Commonwealth Attorneys like Jill Deegan, Charles Sharp and Tony Spencer, there might well be a different mind-set in approaching animal cruelty cases across the state.

 

5. We need help on Court Watch. If you have at least 5 hours a week to work with us, it would be terrific.

 

This is a program which can make a big difference, but it takes much time and a lot of attention to detail to keep up.

 

Please let us know.

 

 

Lillian Clancy and Don Marro