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Case ID: 12318
Classification: Burning - Fire or Fireworks
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CONVICTED: Was justice served?

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Case #12318 Rating: 2.8 out of 5



Wednesday, Sep 12, 2007

County: Hamilton

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 1 files available

Defendant/Suspect: Robert Alan Primmer

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Hamilton County sheriff's deputies said two neighbors witnessed 37-year-old Robert Primmer set fire to a cat.

Witness Melissa Allie said she couldn't believe what was seeing, so she grabbed her camera to get some pictures of the injured cat.

Allie said it was her 14-year-old daughter who actually saw Primmer with the cat, but they both couldn't believe what happened next.

"All the sudden, this big shoot of fire came out of the burn barrel and just ran so fast towards their house," Allie said.

She said that she and her two children watched in horror as the burning cat darted around the Primmer's back yard.

"Very, very scary," Allie said. "My children were just standing there, just, 'Oh my gosh, what is going on here? This is like a nightmare.'"

Before calling 911, Allie grabbed her camera and took pictures of the cat hiding under the Primmer's minivan. The cat's singed paws and scorched fur could be seen underneath.

Allie said that by the time sheriff's deputies arrived, the cat was gone.


Case Updates

According to court records, Robert Primmer entered a guilty plea to the charge of animal torture - 1st offense on November 14, 2007. As part of his plea agreement, Primmer's 2-year prison sentence was suspended, and he was placed on 2 years probation. His probation conditions include serving ten days in jail, serving community service, and paying a fine of $625.00. If Primmer violates any of the conditions of his probation, he may be ordered to serve the prison term.
Source: Case #02401 AGCR012412
Update posted on Nov 29, 2007 - 1:18PM 
This month, Robert Primmer set fire to a cat using a burn barrel. Witnesses state that they saw the terrified animal, engulfed in flames, escape the burn barrel and hide under Primmer's minivan. Photos reportedly taken by concerned neighbors of the victimized animal depict what appears to be a horribly injured cat, scorched and dazed and drooling profusely. Alarmingly, authorities have been unable to locate this animal.

The task of prosecuting Primmer falls on the office of Patrick Chambers, the county attorney for Hamilton County. Please respectfully remind Chambers that his office's vigorous prosecution of this and any cruelty case-and the pursuit of stringent penalties when convictions in such cases are won-is in the best interests of the county's human and animal residents.

Call on his office to spare no effort in seeking Primmer's conviction on these charges and the applicable penalties for him: incarceration; a permanent prohibition on his having ownership, custody, or control of animals (as is allowed by state law); and any necessary psychiatric intervention.

Please send your polite comments to:
The Honorable Patrick Chambers
County Attorney
Hamilton County Attorney's Office
721 Seneca St.
Webster City, IA 50595
515-832-9581 (fax)
Update posted on Oct 1, 2007 - 3:29PM 

References


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