Attorneys/Judges
| Defense(s): | Christopher Ferro | | Judge(s): | Nancy Edie, Thomas H. Kelley |
CONVICTED: Was justice served?
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Case #15524 Rating: 5.0 out of 5
Horse neglect alleged, owner pleas to disorderly
Millersville, PA (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Sep 24, 2008
County: Lancaster
Charges: Summary
Disposition: Civil penalty imposed
Defendant/Suspect: Donna Kingston
A woman who had been charged with cruelty to animals for the condition of the horse she owned pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct last week.
Donna Kingston of Millersville was charged in September after York County animal control officers were alerted to the health of Billy, a bay Belgian gelding, in Peach Bottom Township.
According to court documents, Billy suffered from untreated sinus and hoof infections and ongoing weight loss.
The animal was seized by the SPCA and treated. It was later put down.
Kingston was found guilty of cruelty to animals in a summary trial in district court in December. District Justice Nancy Edie ordered Kingston to pay $1,809 to cover the fine and restitution to the SPCA.
Kingston appealed the conviction, and Wednesday before Common Pleas Court Judge Thomas H. Kelley, she pleaded guilty to the lesser summary offense.
Kelley fined her $25 and directed she pay $1,101 in restitution to the SPCA.
Kingston's attorney, Christopher Ferro, said the plea agreement was reached because Kingston maintained she spent little to no time at the property where Billy was kept and had not seen the horse when he began to show signs of illness.
"She denied the (cruelty) charge but she wanted to be responsible for the restitution for the animal," Ferro said. References« PA State Animal Cruelty Map
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