Alert 5/1/08 Court Watch – May, 2008
Please ask for details on any of the cases below.
Please attend as many as you can, and when planning to attend, let the Commonwealth Attorney know you will be there in support of the animals. Remember to confirm that the proceeding is still scheduled, as cases are frequently continued.
In prioritizing the cases, attend those that are trials and those with sentencing as the anticipated action, and there are quite a few this month! This means we urge you to attend:
. sentencing of Mathias Acholi on 5/2 in Fredericksburg
. trial of Tony Taylor (Michael Vick co-defendant) on 5/7 in Surry
. hearing (possible ruling) re Kenneth Ewa on 5/14 in Virginia Beach
. trial of James Jackson & Amanda Melendez on 5/14 in Culpeper
. trial of Michael Smith on 5/14 in Warren County
. trial of Junior Horton on 5/16 in Carroll County
. trial of Eugene Lynch on 5/20 in Suffolk
. sentencing of Alfred Taylor on 5/30 in Chesapeake
If you can’t attend but want to contact the Commonwealth Attorneys involved, saying you support their vigorous prosecution of animal cruelty cases, we encourage you to do so. Let us know if you need help getting to the correct person, but most are listed on the website for the county or city.
5/2/08 Friday
9 am
Fredericksburg Circuit Court
Defendant: Mathias Acholi
found guilty 3/18/08 of cruelty to animals, reckless handling of a firearm, and discharging a firearm in public; this is the case where a security guard, Mr. Acholi, shot a dog in an apartment complex garden area; the dog died
action anticipated: sentencing
NOTE: Since the conviction of Mr. Acholi on 3/18/08, the judge who presided over the trial, John W. Scott, Jr., has died. Substitute judges have come in since Judge Scott’s death, and the sentencing will go on with Judge Joseph Spruill presiding.
5/5/08 Monday
9 am
Newport News GDC
Defendant: Marlon Carter
three charges of animal cruelty; suspected dogfighting
action anticipated: arraignment, bond, appointment of attorney hearing
NOTE: continued from 4/15/08
5/6/08 Tuesday
10 am
Newport News Circuit Court
Defendant: Marlon Carter
appeal of conviction on four counts of animal cruelty by General District Court
action anticipated: attorney advisement hearing
5/7/08 Wednesday
9 am
Surry County Circuit Court
Defendant: Tony Taylor
state dogfighting charges; one of three (Mr. Taylor plus Quanis Phillips and Purnell Peace) co-defendants of Michael Vick
anticipated action: trial
NOTE: the trial will actually be held in the Sussex County Circuit Court Building as the Surry county facilities are being renovated
5/12/08 Monday
noon
Botetourt County Combined Courts
Defendant: Hubert Jack Cassell
animal impoundment case involving more than 40 rabbits
anticipated action: impoundment hearing
NOTE: continued from 4/2/08 which was continued from 3/3/08
5/13/08 Tuesday
2:00 p. m.
Suffolk General District Court
Defendant: William Lee Shelton
eight counts of animal cruelty regarding approximately 60 cows found ill and/or undernourished; three required euthanasia
action anticipated: arraignment
NOTE: continued from 3/27/08 which was continued from 2/21/08
5/14/08 Wednesday
9:00 am
Virginia Beach General District Court
Defendant: Kenneth Bassey Ewa
two charges of animal cruelty and one charge of failure to care for animals; eight pits seized; reason for seizure and condition of dogs not clear; offense date of 2/29/08
action anticipated: judge may hear and rule
5/14/08 Wednesday
10:30 am
Culpeper County General District Court
Defendants: James Jackson and Amanda Melendez
charges of animal cruelty, no rabies vaccinations, inadequate care; involves six adult pit bulls, seven puppies, a parakeet and an iguana left without food or water for what may have been as long as two weeks
action anticipated: trial
5/14/08 Wednesday
2:00 pm
Warren County General District Court
Defendant: Michael Smith
29 dogs were seized; 52 counts of no current dog tags, no rabies vaccinations, and general animal cruelty; potential unlicensed puppymill in Linden, VA, where animals were housed in cold, dark conditions, underweight and hungry, constantly reproducing
action anticipated: trial
5/16/08 Friday
1:00 pm
Carroll County General District Court
Defendant: Lanzie (“Junior”) Horton, Jr.
1080 small breed dogs of various ages found in Carroll County; charges include 25 counts of inadequate care and 14 counts of animal cruelty
action anticipated: trial
NOTE: continued from 4/18/08
5/20/08 Tuesday
1 pm
Suffolk General District Court
Defendant: Eugene Gordon Lynch
possible puppymill; illegal kennel housing 102 dogs in substandard conditions, several cats and livestock; 145 counts including 103 counts of failure to provide adequate care; some additional charges regarding rabies and licenses
action anticipated: bench trial
NOTE: continued from 4/15/08
5/30/08 Friday
8:30 am
Chesapeake Circuit Court
Defendant: Alfred Taylor
convicted 12/18/06 of dogfighting
action anticipated: sentencing
NOTE: continued from 4/10/08
Let us know what you attend and what you think.
Thank you.
Lillian Clancy, Don Marro and Maureen Federico, Court Watch Editor