Sunday, February 1, 2009

Guilty Verdict in Montana Horse Abuse Case

Jan 31, 2009 10:31 AM MST
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Guilty verdict in Hamilton horse abuse case; Appeal filed

Jury deliberating in Hamilton horse abuse trial

Hamilton horse abuse trial underway

Reporting from KPAX in Missoula

A Ravalli County jury has found two Georgia men accused of animal cruelty guilty on all 21 misdemeanor counts. The jury convicted Craig Heydon and Curtis Heydon of neglecting horses on a packing trip through the Bitterroot last summer. Craig Heydon, 71, was sentenced to 10 months in jail and fined $5,800 while his son Curtis was sentenced to 11 months in jail and fined $6,400. Both men were also ordered to forfeit ownership of the horses to the humane society and pay all restitution. But after the verdict, the defense appealed the decision and the case will now head to Ravalli County District court in about a month. Both men remain free on bond pending the new trial.
(from January 30, 2009)
A Hamilton jury has found a pair of Georgia men guilty on all 21 counts filed in a Ravalli County horse abuse case. The verdict came down early Friday afternoon and was immediately appealed by defense lawyers for Craig Hayden, 71, and his son, 37-year-old Curtis Hayden.
A Ravalli County court official says that another hearing will now need to be held, but there's no word yet on when that will happen. Four malnourished and abused horses had to be rescued in Ravalli County has last summer after hikers found one of them lying on the Big Creek Trail.
- Mark Thorsell reporting from KPAX in Missoula with information from Irina Cates

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