Case Details
Case Snapshot
Case ID: 14248
Classification: Neglect / Abandonment
Animal: horse
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Attorneys/Judges
Judge(s): Mike Whitaker, Charles "Chip" Cary





CONVICTED: Was justice served?

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Case #14248 Rating: 2.6 out of 5



Eleven horses neglected
Somerville, TN (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008
County: Fayette

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: George Blackburn

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

While George Blackburn said from a Fayette County jail cell that he didn't know the whereabouts of his 11 neglected horses, his mother was hauling them across Arkansas.

Now, mother and son are in trouble over animals once kept on Blackburn's Fayette farm.

Betty Blackburn, the 77-year-old mother, and companion Emmons Booth face 11 counts of animal cruelty in Arkansas. Both pleaded not guilty after a court appearance in Texarkana on Tuesday. Their case was reset until May 22, said Connie Perry, animal services officer for the Texarkana police department.

Those charges resulted from Betty Blackburn and Booth limping into a Texarkana tire store on April 29 with a flat on a horse trailer. Greg Fett, the manager, became suspicious when he noticed the sickly horses in the hauler. The pair didn't want any help with the animals, saying they were in a hurry, headed to Paris, Texas. Fett told his employees "to drag their feet on the deal" while he called police.

"They looked pitiful," Fett said of the horses. "All skinny, malnourished. Half of them missing hair. One was laying on the ground getting stepped on. She couldn't get up."

The arrests in Texarkana were the latest twist in the bizarre case that began when George Blackburn was arrested last month. Fayette County animal rescue workers filed a complaint about his treatment of the horses on his farm near Williston.

Blackburn appeared in Fayette County General Sessions Court on April 29. He was told to leave the horses alone, but a few hours later, the horses disappeared, leading authorities to arrest George Blackburn again.

When Blackburn told Judge Mike Whitaker he knew nothing about the missing horses, the judge said the suspect would remain in jail until they were found.

That was the same day his mother and Booth were arrested in Texarkana.

Ten of the horses are under the care of the ARTEX Animal Welfare League in Texarkana, Ark. One of the horses, which was pregnant, died after they were discovered at the tire store.

"The horses are doing a lot better now. We have a vet taking care of them. But all of them were at least 350 pounds underweight," Perry said.

Local authorities learned earlier Wednesday that Blackburn's horses were in Texarkana, said Gina Thweatt, president of the Fayette County Animal Rescue. The discovery was made when they were directed to a story on the Web site pet-abuse.com about the arrests.

That didn't stop George Blackburn from again telling a judge on Wednesday he didn't know anything about the location of the horses. Blackburn was again held in contempt and remained in jail.

"I hope he stays there a while the way those horses looked," Fett said. "You don't want to sound like a (jerk) over the deal, but one of the mares was pregnant, and she was about to deliver any day.


Case Updates

George Blackburn was found guilty today of animal cruelty charges for mistreating 17 horses he kept on his farm in Williston.

Judge Charles "Chip" Cary took only 10 minutes to deliberate after the defense rested about 3:40 p.m. at the Bill Kelley Criminal Justice Complex in Somerville.

Blackburn was sentenced to a maximum 11 months, 29 days probation and ordered to pay a $1,700 fine and restitution of $7,849 to the Fayette County Animal Rescue. The rescue shelter took custody of the animals and cared for them after Blackburn was charged.

Blackburn also was ordered not to own any horses until 2018.
Source: Commercial Appeal - July 29, 2008
Update posted on Jul 29, 2008 - 9:38PM 
A Fayette County man accused of neglecting 17 horses he kept on his farm near Williston will go on trial Monday.

George Blackburn was charged with cruelty to animals after Fayette animal rescue workers and county officials received complaints from residents about the treatment of his horses.

His mother, Betty Blackburn, and her companion, Emmons Booth, pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges in Arkansas after the two removed 11 horses from Blackburn's farm and attempted to transport them to Texas.

Both Betty Blackburn and Booth were arrested in Texarkana, Ark., after they made a stop at a tire store and a worker noticed the frail-looking horses in the trailer and called police.

Betty Blackburn paid a maximum of $250 per horse and is on probation. Booth was fined the same amount but was unable to pay the debt and served several weeks in jail, said Connie Perry, animal services officer for the Texarkana police department.

If convicted, George Blackburn could face a maximum of 11 months and 29 days in jail and a $2,500 fine, according to Fayette County Sheriff's Insp. Raymond Garcia.

"All the horses were 350 pounds or more underweight," Perry said. "One had been trampled real bad, they had health issues and cuts wide open."

One horse was euthanized and another gave birth to a colt shortly after.

Eleven horses are under the care of ARTEX Animal Welfare League in Texarkana and are recovering in foster homes. The remaining six are in Fayette County.

"They are all doing great and they're fat, happy and feisty," said Fayette County Animal Rescue board member Christy Patrick.

Blackburn's trial was originally scheduled for April but his case was delayed after Judge Mike Whitaker recused himself. His July 2 trial was delayed after Blackburn's lawyer asked for an extension, claiming he was unprepared.
Source: Commercial Appeal - July 19, 2008
Update posted on Jul 29, 2008 - 9:36PM 

References

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