Day in court
What happened
Justice Court on Thursday fined Vancleave resident Jeanne Huston $2,000 for animal cruelty and neglect in the case of 18 horses and two llamas taken from her property.
What's next
A judge in Jackson County Court will decide Monday morning if Huston gets the animals back.
Jeanne Huston, whose horses the county confiscated in the fall because they were starved, pleaded no contest Thursday in Justice Court to one charge of animal cruelty and 19 charges of animal neglect.
She didn't appear in court. Her attorney, Briley Richmond, represented her and will represent her Monday when the other aspect of her case, the heart of the matter, goes to County Court. Monday is when a judge will decide who gets the animals, 18 horses and two llamas.
Huston wants them back, especially a black Arabian stud that she had insured for $5,000.
The animals have been at the county animal shelter since they were taken from Huston's property Oct. 29. They are gaining weight and will be auctioned by the county if Huston loses her bid to get them back.
Huston's attorney agreed Thursday to a $100 fine per charge, totaling $2,000. But if Huston doesn't get the Arabian on Monday, the Justice Court fines will be appealed, Richmond said. "If we get the ones back that we want, it's all over."
Huston, 53, had more than 100 animals on five acres in Vancleave when county officials got a warrant to go onto the property to check out complaints about animals' health. They found thin and sick horses, two carcasses, insufficient food and insufficient manpower to feed and care for that many animals.
Though her attorney said the seizure of Huston's animals was untimely because she had medical problems that kept her from properly taking care of the animals, neighbors said the horses had been in poor health for years.
Sue Bennett, a pharmacy manager in Vancleave, signed the complaint used to get a warrant. She also brought the cruelty charge against Huston.
After an investigation, County Animal Shelter Director Bill Richman brought the 19 neglect charges.
Neither believes Huston should have the horses and llamas back. They said Huston has too many horses to care for properly, even if she has bought 160 acres in Benndale.
Bennett said she couldn't see the logic in letting her have just the valuable horse back.
"I don't care if a horse is worth $50,000, if its bones are showing... ," Bennett said, it needs to be adopted by somebody who can properly care for it.
Richman said he wasn't interested in a deal where the county gives back the stud, keeps the others and Huston pays the fine.
"I told him (Huston's attorney) let's let it ride and see what happens Monday," Richman said.
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/local/7887555.htm
What happened
Justice Court on Thursday fined Vancleave resident Jeanne Huston $2,000 for animal cruelty and neglect in the case of 18 horses and two llamas taken from her property.
What's next
A judge in Jackson County Court will decide Monday morning if Huston gets the animals back.
Jeanne Huston, whose horses the county confiscated in the fall because they were starved, pleaded no contest Thursday in Justice Court to one charge of animal cruelty and 19 charges of animal neglect.
She didn't appear in court. Her attorney, Briley Richmond, represented her and will represent her Monday when the other aspect of her case, the heart of the matter, goes to County Court. Monday is when a judge will decide who gets the animals, 18 horses and two llamas.
Huston wants them back, especially a black Arabian stud that she had insured for $5,000.
The animals have been at the county animal shelter since they were taken from Huston's property Oct. 29. They are gaining weight and will be auctioned by the county if Huston loses her bid to get them back.
Huston's attorney agreed Thursday to a $100 fine per charge, totaling $2,000. But if Huston doesn't get the Arabian on Monday, the Justice Court fines will be appealed, Richmond said. "If we get the ones back that we want, it's all over."
Huston, 53, had more than 100 animals on five acres in Vancleave when county officials got a warrant to go onto the property to check out complaints about animals' health. They found thin and sick horses, two carcasses, insufficient food and insufficient manpower to feed and care for that many animals.
Though her attorney said the seizure of Huston's animals was untimely because she had medical problems that kept her from properly taking care of the animals, neighbors said the horses had been in poor health for years.
Sue Bennett, a pharmacy manager in Vancleave, signed the complaint used to get a warrant. She also brought the cruelty charge against Huston.
After an investigation, County Animal Shelter Director Bill Richman brought the 19 neglect charges.
Neither believes Huston should have the horses and llamas back. They said Huston has too many horses to care for properly, even if she has bought 160 acres in Benndale.
Bennett said she couldn't see the logic in letting her have just the valuable horse back.
"I don't care if a horse is worth $50,000, if its bones are showing... ," Bennett said, it needs to be adopted by somebody who can properly care for it.
Richman said he wasn't interested in a deal where the county gives back the stud, keeps the others and Huston pays the fine.
"I told him (Huston's attorney) let's let it ride and see what happens Monday," Richman said.
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/local/7887555.htm
