Neglected horses seized
Cadiz, OH (US)Incident Date: Friday, Jul 10, 2009
County: Harrison
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Chester L. Thompson
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
A Harrison County man may be in hot water over the condition of animals found on his property in early July.
Chester Thompson has had a long history of animal cruelty charges.
His latest arrest came earlier this month for owning horses, which he's not allowed to do because of prior arrests.
The Harrison County Humane Society took the animals from his property earlier this month.
On Friday, the 83-year-old Cadiz man faced a judge for a probation revocation hearing.
Thompson claims horses taken from his property are not his and the animals are healthy.
"I didn't own those horses," Thompson said. "I don't care what the Humane Society says. They're full of (expletive)."
Thompson said the horses belong to his son.
Despite photographs of their condition provided by the Humane Society, Thompson said the horses are healthy.
"Their ribs weren't showing or nothing. They were in good order," he said.
Humane officers in the courtroom said they couldn't believe what they heard.
"It's sad, but pictures don't lie," said Chris McMillion of the Humane Society. "He's in denial, and that's OK."
A new hearing hasn't been set yet, but humane officers said even if Thompson's probation is revoked, they don't think prison is the right place for him.
I'd like to see him put in adult care," McMillion said. "Prison, I don't think is the answer for him."
Officials said Thompson rescues the horses from slaughterhouses, but he can't care for them.
As of Friday, Thompson was back in jail until his next hearing or until he posts bond.
"I wasn't in jail for 80 years and now if I spit on the sidewalk I get arrested," Thompson said.
Case UpdatesA request for legal counsel has brought proceedings to a screeching halt in a much publicized animal neglect/abuse case.
Chester Thompson, of 81800 Barricklow Road, Cadiz, was in court last week but after requesting to seek an attorney, Judge Mark Beetham granted the defendant time to obtain counsel.
The 82-year-old Thompson has a long history of animal cruelty charges stemming back to a case in 2003 where nearly 40 malnourished and ill horses were found to be in his care. On numerous occasions, the man has been ordered to refrain from owning horses but continues to have them on his property. He has also be found guilty on charges of drunk driving and driving under suspension.
The latest incident involved several animals that were found foraging for food at his home. Authorities were forced to euthanize one of the horses due to injuries it apparently endured while being transported by Thompson to his property which is littered with junk vehicles and other scrap metal.
Allegedly, he purchases the equines from area auction barns and transports them on makeshift trailers.
At one point, a horse he was hauling on a crude trailer lost its footing, partially had one leg lodged along side of the trailer and suffered severe road burns. The animal, along with one other, was taken from Thompson by authorities in Tuscarawas County where the incident occurred. He was found guilty of animal cruelty.
In a more recent case, Thompson pleaded to one count of second-degree misdemeanor animal cruelty and was placed on 12 months' probation. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail with 83 suspended. He was also ordered to pay a fine and was once again ordered to never own or possess horses.
In the current case, officials from the county's Humane Society took 10 horses from Thompson property on July 10 in addition to the horse that was put down.
Thompson, who is also facing probation violation, will be back in court on Monday at 2:45 p.m. He is being held on a $75,000 bond. | Source: Times Leader Online - July 31, 2009
Update posted on Jul 31, 2009 - 9:40PM |
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