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Case Snapshot
Case ID: 16248
Classification: Neglect / Abandonment
Animal: goat
More cases in Phillips County, MT
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CONVICTED: Was justice served?

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Case #16248 Rating: 2.5 out of 5



200 goats starved to death
Dodson, MT (US)

Incident Date: Saturday, Feb 20, 2010
County: Phillips

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 2 files available

Defendant/Suspect: Jon Marc Carman

Case Updates: 3 update(s) available

A Montana man has been accused of starving 200 goats to death by locking them in a barn without food and water for over a month.

Jon-Marc Carman made an initial court appearance Tuesday on felony aggravated animal cruelty charges.

His District Court arraignment is scheduled for March 8. Carman is free on a $2,500 bond.


Case Updates

John Carman, the Malta man who admitted fault in the death of more than 100 goats, will likely spend no time in jail.

Carman received a deferred sentence this week in Phillips County.

The animal cruelty case first broke in February of last year.

Just outside of Dodson, neighbors reported almost 200 goats died at a nearby ranch after being neglected by Carman.

He was charged with aggravated animal cruelty, and entered a plea agreement the day before he was set to go on trial.

This week's sentence calls for six years probation and $17,000 in restitution.

$11,000 will go to the owner of the goats, and $6,000 will go to the property owner.

January 25, 2011

The trial of Jon Carman, accused of leaving more than 200 goats to die last February in Dodson, was vacated on Tuesday after a plea deal was reached.

His trial on one charge of aggravated animal cruelty had been scheduled to begin on Wednesday, January 26th. If he had been convicted of the charge, Carman could have faced a sentence of up to two years and a fine of up to $2,500.

The plea bargain calls for Carman to plead nolo contendere (no contest) to the charge. A nolo contendere plea means that the defendant does not admit guilt, but agrees to punishment as though he had pleaded guilty.

In the plea agreement, the Phillips County Attorney has agreed to recommend a six-year deferred sentence under the supervision of the MT Department of Corrections.

The plea agreement also stipulates that Carman will not own any goats or other livestock during his six-year deferred sentence, except for one horse and one mule.
Source: kxlh.com - Mar 30, 2011
Update posted on Mar 31, 2011 - 12:20AM 
The trial of Jon Carman, accused of leaving more than 200 goats to die last February in Dodson, is scheduled to begin this week.

Carman was granted a change of venue a few months ago; the trial was originally going to be held in Malta, but will now be heard in Glasgow.

The trial is slated to begin on Wednesday, January 26th.

Carman faces one count of aggravated animal cruelty.

The investigation started last February when Phillips County officials received calls from concerned neighbors.

The dead goats were found without food or water on a property leased by Carman.

He could face up to $2,500 in fines and two years with the MT Department of Corrections.
Source: kxlh.com - Jan 24, 2011
Update posted on Jan 24, 2011 - 10:12PM 
A Dodson man pleaded innocent Monday to aggravated animal cruelty for allegedly killing some 200 goats by locking them in a barn without food or water.

Jon M. Carman was arrested after a neighbor alerted the Montana Department of Livestock on Feb. 4.

According to court documents, a livestock investigator saw dead adult and baby goats piled on top of each other in a barn. Three other goats had died with their heads stuck in a fence. More dead goats were found on the ground and in a stock trailer.

Carman, a rancher southwest of Dodson, leased the land from Joe Butterweck, who lives in California. Phillips County Sheriff Tom Miller said Monday that the landowner has since terminated the lease with Carman.

Phillips County Commissioner Troy Blunt said the county attorney is researching Montana law to determine who is responsible for removing and disposing of the dead goats. With the weather staying relatively cold, the goats do not pose a sanitary issue for now, he said.

Miller said a few goats and two horses on the property survived. Because Carman cannot be in control of any animals pending his court proceedings, concerned neighbors are caring for the surviving animals.

Carman's next court appearance will be an omnibus hearing on April 27. No trial date has been set.

Under Montana law, the maximum penalty for aggravated animal cruelty, which is defined as knowingly or negligently inflicting cruelty on a group of 10 animals or more, is a $2,500 fine and two years in prison.

County Attorney Ed Amestoy and Assistant County Attorney Dan O'Brien could not be reached for comment Monday.
Source: Great Falls Tribune - Mar 9, 2010
Update posted on Mar 9, 2010 - 5:03PM 

References

  • « Back to Search Results
    « MT State Animal Cruelty Map
    « More cases in Phillips County, MT

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