200 goats starved to death
Dodson, MT (US)Incident Date: Saturday, Feb 20, 2010
County: Phillips
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Jon Marc Carman
Case Updates: 1 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 UpdatesA 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 |
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