Alert 7/9/08 Court Watch – July
The cases don’t slow down even in the summer.
Tony Taylor:
Note that there is a trial scheduled on 7/22/08 for a Michael Vick co-defendant, Tony Taylor. None of the Surry County cases involving Mr. Vick and his co-defendants have moved forward, and there is no reason to think this one will be different. This foot-dragging in the pursuit of justice seems an affront to Virginians generally, and specifically to residents of Surry County who elected Commonwealth Attorney Poindexter.
“Junior” Horton:
Mr. Horton appeals on 7/29/08 what could be characterized as a slap on the wrist.
Please attend cases having trials or noted as for sentencing if you must prioritize your time.
Let us know if you want additional information on a specific case.
Once again, we encourage you to call the Court or the Commonwealth Attorney for the jurisdiction involved, confirming that the proceeding will indeed take place, and saying you will be in the courtroom in support of the animals.
NOTE: Please be in touch with your own Commonwealth Attorney and/or ACOs and ask about animal cases that are currently in the system. Let us know about them so we can follow their progress. This takes time, patience, and persistence, and we need your help.
7/1/08 Tuesday
9:00 am
Warren County Circuit Court
Defendant: Joseph Paul Godfrey
in 9/07, Mr. Godfrey, a Warren County resident, adopted a miniature pinscher from the Fauquier County SPCA; 2 days later he brought the dog to the Marshall Vet Clinic with head injuries and hip dislocation, injuries indicating head trauma as a result of kicking; he was indicted by the Grand Jury; case was set for arraignment on 5/5/08 but was continued to 6/2/08 and again to 7/1/08
action anticipated: arraignment, attorney advisement hearing
result:
On 7/1/08, Mr. Godfrey pleaded guilty to a felony charge of animal cruelty. The judge requested a pre-sentencing report, with the pre-sentencing report scheduled for 8/19/08.
7/11/08 Friday
11:00 am
Richmond County General District Court
Defendant: Christy Ross Davis
arraignment on charge of felony theft of dog on 6/6/08
action anticipated: trial
7/18/08 Friday
9:00 am
Spotsylvania County Circuit Court
Defendant: Ms Chen Hsu
appeal from conviction (jury trial on 2/28/08) in General District Court on 16 counts of animal cruelty
NOTE: incomplete information on this case
action anticipated: trial
7/22/08 Tuesday
9:00 am
Surry County Circuit Court
Defendant: Anthony (Tony) Taylor
one dogfighting and three animal cruelty charges; indicted by Grand Jury 9/25/07; attorney advisement hearing 10/3/07; to be set for trial 11/27/07; continued to 5/27/08 and continued again to 7/22/08
NOTE: phone call (7/8/08) to Commonwealth Attorney Gerald Poindexter to confirm 7/22/08 trial resulted in his office saying he is not available but the trial is on the calendar
NOTE: Mr. Taylor is a Michael Vick co-defendant
action anticipated: postponement
7/22/08 Tuesday
2:00 pm
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
NOTE: continued from 2/21/08 to 3/27/08 to 5/13/08 to 7/22/08
action anticipated: bench trial
7/23/08 Wednesday
1:30 pm
Newport News General District Court
Defendant: Marlon Edmond Carter
incident date of 2/4/08 and arrest date of 2/25/08; three counts of animal cruelty; suspected dogfighting; emaciated dogs with ribs visible, one with severe scarring on its muzzle and ear; dogs found at residence of Mr. Carter and taken to a veterinarian; officers with search warrant found dogfighting magazines and material
NOTE: because of a previous conviction (2/08), Mr. Carter was barred from keeping companion animals for at least five years
NOTE: continued from 4/15/08 to 5/5/08 to 6/4/08 to 7/23/08
action anticipated: bench trial
7/24/08 Thursday
2:00 pm
Rockingham/Harrisonburg General District Court
Defendant: Adam Lee Hovey
charged with multiple felonies including three counts of maliciously shooting or killing livestock, three counts of animal cruelty, and multiple charges dealing with firearms including shooting a weapon across a street or road; a Palomino horse was killed, another was injured, and a goat was killed which was the pet of an 11-year-old girl; charges stem from joint investigation by Rockingham County and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
action anticipated: preliminary hearing
7/29/08 Tuesday
9:00 am
Carroll County Circuit Court
Defendant: Lanzie Carroll (“Junior”) Horton, Jr.
convicted 5/16/08 in Carroll County General District Court of 14 charges of animal cruelty and 25 fines for animal neglect; the animal cruelty fines were $2,500 each, but the judge suspended $2,250 of each; the animal neglect fines were $500 but the judge suspended $450 of each; Mr. Horton’s 12-year jail sentence was suspended; he was ordered to pay an amount to be determined to cover the cost of veterinary services provided for the approximately 700 dogs taken from his property during the raid; he was sentenced to active probation to be shared by New River Valley Corrections and the Animal Control Officer of Carroll County, Terry Woods, who testified at the trial
Mr. Horton appealed his conviction.
action anticipated: trial
7/30/08 Wednesday
3:30 pm
Augusta County Circuit Court
Defendant: Ms Terry Sullivan
during 4/08, at least a dozen horses were seen on Ms Sullivan’s property, one of them unable to lift her head; horse euthanized following day with a preliminary report saying death a possible case of starvation; Ms Sullivan had 19 horses taken from her in the 1990’s in a case of animal cruelty; facing the same judge 4/08, she was given the maximum punishment allowed by law: one year in jail and a $2,500 fine
Ms Sullivan appealed her conviction.
action anticipated: trial
7/31/08 Thursday
9:00 am
Fauquier General District Court
Defendant: Nathan David Hileman
charged with animal cruelty as a result of shooting and killing his own dog on 5/18/08 in addition to firearm charge and a charge of being drunk in public
action anticipated: arraignment