Press Release from The Cloud Foundation
Wild Horse Advocates will bear Witness at Court
"No Shooting Wild Horses"
Reno, NV (April 21, 2010)—The Cloud Foundation and other wild horse advocates are coming to Reno on April 27, 2010 at 3 p.m. to witness Todd Davis and Joshua Keathly make their first court appearance for allegedly harassing and killing five federally protected American wild mustangs—shot on or about November 28, 2009 in Washoe county, Nevada. U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. McQuaid, Jr. will preside in Federal District Court, 400 S. Virginia Street, Reno.
Wild horse advocates find it unsettling to learn that Davis & Keathley are only charged with one count of causing the death of five wild horses for each man. Advocates are calling for charges of five counts, one for each horse as is standard with murder cases. If convicted of one count, each man will face a maximum of one year in prison and a maximum $100,000 fine.
“If convicted, the maximum penalties need to be applied to send a clear message—you kill America’s federally protected mustangs and you will pay the price,” states Emmy-Award winning filmmaker and Director of The Cloud Foundation, Ginger Kathrens.
The public is encouraged to attend the trial on behalf of the murdered horses. The Cloud Foundation joins the public in calling for increased charges in the violent deaths of five American mustangs on public land who are protected by the Wild Horse and Burro Act of 1971.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://i0.wp.com/img.zemanta.com/reblog_a.png)
Categories: Horse News, Wild Horses/Mustangs
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Another example of dysfunction at the judicial and oversight junction.
Let’s see, I put up “No Tresspassing” signs, they get pulled down, tresspassers come in and cut down my old growth trees and the judge tells me I didn’t properly mark off my property so no crime and I don’t have evidence that the hired “woodchuck” did the deed because the mill says woodchucks bringing in raw timber for milling are private info. Nice! Forget the crime, forget the loss, victimize the victim. Yeah great US law enforcement, legal system…thanks for your support. Same mess here.
God truly help us/US!
LikeLike
to all attending the court date. Please let me know so I can hook up with you. I will be off that day and glad to attend, maybe we can all sit down later or go for dinner and discuss what we have ahead of us.
LikeLike
When management authorities trivealize the value of wild equines (or any wildlife for that matter) through lack of intense oversight, follow-up and failure to protect and prosecute, is it any wonder that these individuals feel comfortable whacking horses? They certainly didn’t feel they would be found out. They certainly didn’t feel that even if they were found out, the price to pay would be little to nothing….seems our Supreme Court also agrees vis-a-vis yesterday’s decision. Thank you NRA and CJ Roberts.
So who is responsible for setting the tone, mindset and attitude here? Hmmmm? Maybe the people that are charged with protecting our public lands and wildlife, resources in the first place? Seems their message is getting out.
LikeLike
More of the same. Look up sentences for those who have killed federally-protected bald eagles and other birds, sometimes by tens and even hundreds, and for those who have killed wolves, especially the critically endangered NM/AZ Lobos. The overwhelming majority are charged with single count felonies pled down to misdemeanors and/or fines and community service. If the killers do go to jail, they get time off for good behavior and minimal probation.
Defense attorneys often argue felony convictions will follow their clients for the rest of their lives, damage their reputations and standing in the community, cause them to lose their jobs and make it difficult to find employment, and endanger their ability to support their families. These attorneys and criminals know the punishments are so weak that they will never fit the crimes.
Federal and state protection for animals is effectively nonexistant. The protection is for the criminals. If we could get a few righteous convictions and sentences, they’d serve as precedents for future cases. Then we’d be getting somewhere.
LikeLike
Best wishes to all attending. Your presence will send the message intended.
We are in more messes than one in this country that is for sure. But at least, unlike most countries of the world, we do have laws against animal abuse and cruelty and laws meant to protect the wild ones and do bring people like these to trial, though the punishment falls short of the crime.
LikeLike
When someone shoots an elk here in Rocky Mtn. National Park, (federally protected animals also), they get the book thrown at them It shouldn’t be any different with the federally protected wild horses, correct?
LikeLike
Thank you to all of you who will make your presence known. It is through statements such as these that procecutors are beginning to learn (just beginning) that we are serious about animal abuse and expect sentences that make a statement. The reason that animal abuse laws have been stepped up to the felony level is so that the crime will follow you and people will know what you are capable of as a quasi human being. When my chihuahua was shot by a neighbor I had to hound the DA the hell and back to get him to prosecute. In that case just as they were going to go out to charge him he died of a massive heart attack (kinda fitting). But at least it set a message up in my rural community which I made sure was spread around–mess with an animal on my watch and I will be persistent and make certain you are charged under the felony law.
LikeLike