Two horses neglected, one dies - Estacada, OR

Friday, Mar 9, 2007

County: Clackamas

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 1 files available

Defendant/Suspect: Mary Lorraine Boyle

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

A Clackamas County woman was accused of neglecting horses in care care after one of the animals was found dead on the property near Damascus.

Clackamas County deputies served a search warrant around noon near Damascus SE Surface Road.

Deputies had been there earlier in February in response to a tipster who called about the horses. Officers told 23-year-old Mary Lorraine Boyle the animals needed veterinary attention and advised her of the consequences if they were neglected.

Boyle had the horses for about eight months and police said she assured them the animals would be taken care of appropriately.

The deputy found out on March 7 that one of the horses had died. Investigators said they found another horse there malnourished. That animal was seized and taken into foster care.

The deceased animal was transported to a medical facility at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Ore. The facility is capable of performing the necessary forensic necropsy which may aid in identifying the cause of death to the animal.

Boyle was cited for first degree animal neglect. She was booked at the Clackamas County Jail and then later released. She was cited for animal neglect which can carry a punishment of up to a year in jail and a maximum fine of $6,250.

Case Updates

A 23-year-old woman pleaded guilty to animal abuse and neglect charges today, nearly two months after Clackamas County Sheriff's deputies found one of her two horses dead and the other severely malnourished March 9 at her home southeast of Estacada. Mary Lorraine Boyle appeared before Judge Douglas Van Dyk in Clackamas County Circuit Court. "You recklessly and cruelly caused the death," he said, reciting the criminal charges. Her reply was a subdued "yes." Boyle was scheduled for sentencing June 8.

Source: OregonLive.com - May 31, 2007 Update posted on Jun 2, 2007 - 6:15PM

A series of anonymous phone calls and a history of law enforcement response led to the discovery of a dead horse and the subsequent arrest of a woman in Clackamas County Friday. The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant Friday at approximately noon, at 35814 SE Surface Road, in Estacada. This is a rural address just east of the City of Estacada. Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Livestock Deputy Morgan Guthner had responded to this address in the recent past in answer to an anonymous caller; who said horses at that address were being neglected. The owner of these neglected horses was identified as 23-year old Mary Lorraine Boyle. Guthner met with Mary Boyle February 5th on the property and learned the horses had not been attended to properly. He says the animals were in need of additional care and maintenance. Boyle was advised of the potential consequences if the animals were not attended to properly in the future, according to Guthner. He says veterinarian attention, farrier attention and a routine feeding schedule were the main topics of discussion. Guthner learned Mary Boyle had possession of the animals for at least 8 months, and he says Boyle was not able to determine when the horses had last been wormed. "When dealing with adult horses -- worming is recommended to be routinely administered every 6 months." The deputy says he provided a stern verbal warning and told Boyle he would return to reevaluate the condition of the animals in the near future. He says Boyle assured him the animals would be cared for properly. On March 7th, Deputy Guthner received information that an animal on the property was down, deceased as a result of neglect. Armed with a search warrant, Guthner responded to this address Friday and located the two original horses he had observed earlier at this location with Boyle. One of the horses was dead, and the other appeared malnourished and neglected. The deceased animal was collected and transported to a medical facility at Oregon State University, in Corvallis. This medical facility is capable of performing the necessary forensic necropsy; which may aid in identifying the cause of death to this animal. The remaining horse, alive, has been seized by the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office and is now in foster care. Detective Jim Strovink with the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office says foster care providers that deal with animals are greatly appreciated by the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office. This volunteer collection of caring individuals provides a very bighearted service to the community during this sometimes complex and time consuming judicial process. Mary Lorraine Boyle, was taken into custody, booked at the Clackamas County Jail, cited and released. She was cited for the charge of Animal Neglect 1; which is a class A misdemeanor – punishable for a time of up to one year in the county jail and carries a maximum fine of $6,250.00. She has an appearance date on this matter set for April 9th; in the Clackamas County Circuit Court, at 3:00 PM.

Source: Salem-News - March 9, 2007 Update posted on Mar 11, 2007 - 6:05PM

References

• KOIN - March 9, 2007
• KGW - March 9, 2007

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