Alert 6/6/08 Court Watch for June, 2008
June is awash with cases!! And there are a large number of trials this month.
The list includes the state trial of Michael Vick (6/27/08) and the state trials of two of his co-defendants from the federal dogfighting cases, (Quanis Phillips on 6/13/08 and Purnell Peace on 6/20/08). Watch to see if the trials are actually held, or if they get continued.
There is also an interesting cockfighting trial on the federal level (Charles Kingrea, one of several implicated in cockfighting in Page County) to be held in Harrisonburg on 6/12 and 6/13. Two days. Must be something here.
And Carroll County’s Circuit Court Clerk’s office maintains that the appeal of the conviction of Lanzie (Junior) Horton on 5/18/08 will result in a trial on 6/17/08, a date which may be more wishful than possible. Stay tuned.
On a personal note, the trial of Lorenza Jones, the former owner of our little adopted pit, will take place on 6/20/08 in Danville’s General District Court.
As before, we will provide details for the cases below.
And as before, please attend as many as you can, ideally letting the Commonwealth Attorney know you will be there in support of the animals.
And as before, remember to confirm that the proceeding listed is still scheduled, as cases are frequently continued.
Note that this alert is being sent on Friday, 6/6/08, so the first few cases on the list have already had some resolution.
6/2/08 Monday
9 am
Warren County Circuit Court
Defendant: Joseph Godfrey
During September, 2007, Joseph Paul Godfrey adopted a miniature pinscher from the Fauquier SPCA. Two days later, he brought the dog to the Marshall Veterinary Clinic in Marshall, VA, with head injuries and hip dislocation, trauma which may have been the result of kicking. The dog was euthanized.
action anticipated: arraignment
NOTE: on 6/2/08, the case was continued to 7/1/08 at 9 am.
6/3/08 Tuesday
10:15 am
Augusta County General District Court
Defendant: Terry L. Sullivan
During April, 2008, at least a dozen horses were seen on the property of Terry Lynn Sullivan, one of them lying in the field, unable to lift her head. The horse was euthanized the following day with a preliminary report saying the death is a possible case of starvation. Ms Sullivan had 19 horses taken from her in the 1990’s in a case of animal cruelty after receiving a suspended jail sentence for cruelty to animals.
action anticipated: trial
Facing the same judge during the 6/3/08 trial that she had faced in the 1990’s, the judge gave Ms Sullivan the maximum punishment allowed by law: one year in jail and a $2,500 fine. Ms Sullivan has already appealed the decision of 6/3/08. The case will be retried in Augusta County Circuit Court; a date has not yet been set.
6/4/08 Wednesday
9:00 am
Newport News General District Court
Defendant: Marlon Carter
Three emaciated dogs were discovered on 2/4/08 at a Newport News home. Officers who were in the neighborhood heard dogs barking and found them in a backyard. One of the dogs had severe scarring on its muzzle and ear. Officers took out a search warrant to look for dogfighting paraphernalia in the home where the dogs were found. Records show the owner of the home is Marlon Carter who court records show was convicted of animal cruelty in a 2006 incident. Authorities were working to determine if Mr. Carter might be involved in dogfighting.
action anticipated: arraignment
At the arraignment of Mr. Carter on 6/4/08, the case was set for “disposition” on 7/23/08 at 1:30 pm in the Newport News General District Court.
6/10/08 Tuesday
2 pm
Chesapeake General District Court
Defendant: Lynda Houck
Various charges arose as the result a raid of Lynda Houck’s facility by Chesapeake police and animal control officers. Ms Houck faces 11 charges including inadequate shelter and care and one charge of cruelty for failure to provide emergency medical care.
NOTE: continued from 3/27/08 to 5/1/08; continued from 5/1/08 to 6/10/08
action anticipated: trial
6/11/08 Wednesday
9 am
Loudoun County Circuit Court
Defendant: Dennis Danley
On 1/22/08, 48 horses were seized from a Loudoun county farm, the horses having no food and frozen water, a situation which had been monitored since November, 2007. On 1/30/08, General District Court Judge J. Frank Buttery gave custody of the horses to Loudoun County Animal Care and Control and ordered the owners to reimburse the county for food and medical costs incurred since the seizure.
On 2/11/08, Mr. Danley was indicted by a Loudoun County Grand Jury on 48 counts of animal cruelty. If convicted, he could spend up to a year in jail and pay a $2,500 fine for each of the 48 offenses which are classified as Class 1 misdemeanors. On 3/14/08, the case was set for trial by jury on 8/4/08 and 8/5/08 with a pre-trial motion to be heard on 6/11/08.
action anticipated: pre-trial hearing
6/11/08 Wednesday
10 am
Caroline County Circuit Court (appeal from General District Court)
Defendant: Michael Wilkerson
Caroline County animal control officers first investigated reports of five emaciated horses in early 2008, telling Mr. Wilkerson to get medical treatment for the horses immediately. When they returned on 1/22/08, animal control officers found no evidence of food or treatment for the horses, so the horses were seized. At trial on 2/8/08, Mr. Wilkerson was convicted of four counts of animal cruelty and received a jail sentence of 12 months for each conviction, with all time suspended except for two months in jail. He was also ordered to pay restitution for the care of the horses and is never to own farm animals again. The convictions were appealed to Caroline County Circuit Court almost immediately.
action anticipated: trial
6/12-13/08 Thursday & Friday
9:30 am
Harrisonburg Division, Western District of Virginia, US District Court; Harrisonburg, VA
Defendant: Charles Leo Kingrea
On June 12-13, 2008, in the US District Court in Harrisonburg, Charles Leo Kingrea will be tried by jury. Mr. Kingrea is charged with four counts. Count One charges him with conspiring to engage in the animal fighting venture of cockfighting and conspiracy to engage in gambling related to it. Count Two charges him with engaging in a conspiracy to sell, buy, transport or deliver a gaff or knife to be used in cockfighting on or about 5/5/07. Count Three charges him with being a principal or aider/abettor in cockfighting on or about 5/5/07, and Count Four charges him with being a principal/aider/abettor in a gambling business associated with cockfighting from in or about 2003 until on or about 5/5/07.
action anticipated: jury trial
6/13/08 Friday
9 am
Surry County Circuit Court NOTE: due to renovations, to be held in Sussex
Defendant: Quanis Phillips County
Quanis Phillips, along with Purnell Peace and Tony Taylor, were co-defendants of Michael Vick in a federal dogfighting case. Mr. Phillips pleaded guilty in 8/07 in Federal Court in Richmond, VA, to promoting illegal dogfighting. Mr. Phillips received 18 months in prison at his sentencing on 11/30/07 and is serving a federal sentence.
Mr. Phillips has also been charged with breaking Virginia law, specifically charged with cruelty to animals and dogfighting. He will be tried on 6/13/08.
action anticipated: jury trial
6/16/08 Monday
9 am
Prince George General District Court
Defendant: Robert Berkley Seay
Mr. Seay is charged with cruelty to animals, specifically his care of his dogs.
action anticipated: trial
6/17/08 Tuesday
9:00 am
Carroll County Circuit Court (appeal from General District Court)
Defendant: Lanzie Horton, Jr.
Lanzie Horton was found guilty of animal cruelty and neglect charges on 5/18/08. He was convicted and received a 12-year jail sentence that was suspended by the General District Court Judge who also suspended large portions of the fines for animal cruelty and animal neglect. Mr. Horton is to pay the cost of veterinary services provided for the approximately 700 dogs taken from his property. Mr. Horton appealed his case to the Carroll County Circuit Court.
action anticipated: trial
6/20/08 Friday
8:30 am
Danville General District Court
Defendant: Lorenza Deshazor Jones
In April, 2008, police officers found a 6-week-old pit bull puppy while serving a warrant on an unrelated manner at the home of Lorenza Jones. The puppy’s ears were cut off with box cutters. Mr. Jones faces animal abuse charges.
action anticipated: trial
6/20/08 Friday
9 am
Surry County Circuit Court NOTE: due to renovations, to be held in Sussex
Defendant: Purnell Peace County
Purnell Peace, along with Quanis Phillips and Tony Taylor, were co-defendants of Michael vick in a federal dogfighting case. Mr. Peace pleaded guilty in 8/07 in Federal court in Richmond, VA, to promoting illegal dogfighting. He is serving a federal sentence.
Mr. Peace will be tried under Virginia law on 6/20/08 on charges of cruelty to animals and dogfighting.
action anticipated: jury trial
6/25/08 Wednesday
2:00 pm
Warren County General District Court
Defendant: Michael D. Smith
On 2/28/08, the Warren County Sheriff’s office seized 22 dogs from an unlicensed puppymill. The dogs were housed in cold and dark conditions and were hungry and underweight. Mr. Smith faces 52 counts of no current dog tags, no rabies vaccinations, and animal cruelty generally.
action anticipated: trial
6/26/08 Thursday
10:00 am
Newport News Circuit Court (appeal from Newport News General District Court)
Defendant: Marlon Carter
During 2006, Marlon Carter was arrested on animal cruelty charges involving four pit bulls that were left chained outside during a hurricane with no food or shelter. Mr. Carter was found guilty in the Newport News General District Court on reduced charges of “Duties of Owner” on condition he pay $765 in restitution to Animal Services in Newport News, which he did not. Mr. Carter appealed his conviction to the Circuit Court of Newport News where he will be tried on 6/26/08.
action anticipated: trial
6/27/08 Friday
9 am
Surry County Circuit Court
Defendant: Michael Vick
Michael Vick will be tried on two state felony dogfighting charges in Surry County’s Circuit Court. Each felony is punishable by up to five years in prison. Mr. Vick is currently serving a 23-month prison term after pleading guilty to a federal dogfighting conspiracy.
action anticipated: jury trial