Alert 3/29/08 April Court Watch
April has turned into a very busy month for animal cases.
Below is a list of cases for the first week only! More later.
We continue to be surprised at the number of cases that are continued and don’t appear to be pursued as quickly as we might like. This is particularly true when animals are being held pending case outcomes. Keep that in mind when you go to watch the legal proceedings, and keep that in mind when you make your comments to Commonwealth Attorneys or Judges.
Please also consider contacting your own Commonwealth Attorney, reminding them of the upcoming Commonwealth Attorney Spring Conference in Norfolk. On Tuesday, 4/8/08, the Assistant Commonwealth Attorney of Botetourt County, Jill Deegan, will be presenting a half-day session (1:15 to 4:30) on animal law for this CAs. Please encourage your CA to attend. If you don’t know who that is, google your county, i.e., Fauquier County, VA. Find the section about government for your own county and see who the CA is and how to reach that person. If not clear, simply call the office of the County Administrator and ask for name, phone, and email for the CA. Not all CAs really know animal law, and we want them to! Encourage their participation and tell them why you hope they will attend, or send a deputy.
4/1/08 Tuesday
9:30 am
Rappahannock County Combined Court
Defendant: Henry Raymond Ludwig
convicted of 2 counts of animal cruelty
action anticipated: sentencing of Defendant Ludwig
4/2/08 Wednesday
10:00 am
Caroline County Circuit Court
Defendant: Michael Wilkerson
appealing his conviction of animal cruelty to 4 horses
action anticipated: trial date to be set for appeal
4/2/08 Wednesday
11:00 am
Botetourt County General District Court
Defendant: Hubert Jack Cassell
under investigation for animal cruelty involving 42 rabbits
action anticipated: hearing regarding next steps
4/3/08 Thursday
3:00 pm
Culpeper General District Court
Defendants: James Michael Jackson and Amanda Melendez
84 counts of animal cruelty, inadequate care, no dog licenses or rabies vaccinations regarding 13 dogs, a parakeet and an iguana
action anticipated: arraignment and plea
4/4/08 Friday
8:30 am
Fauquier County Circuit Court
Defendant: Charles E. Settle, Jr.
four of five charges are appeals from General District Court; 23 dogs seized (some pregnant) from situation of inadequate care
action anticipated: trial
You are encouraged to attend the Rappahannock case on 4/1 as there is a great deal of citizen involvement in this, and a good show of citizens is anticipated. Coyote traps, dogs missing and found shot, and dogs at large are some of the issues that will impact the sentencing.
Also try to come to the Fauquier trial on 4/4. The number of dogs involved has taxed the ability of local groups to handle dogs from this case in addition to coping with all their usual needs.
If you want more information on any of these, let us know. We plan to attend at least the 4/1 and 4/4 proceedings and hope you will join us.
Lillian Clancy and Don Marro