Case Details
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Case Snapshot
Case ID: 16652
Classification: Beating, Theft
Animal: cow
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Drugs or alcohol involved
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Attorneys/Judges
Prosecutor(s): Harold Bartholomew
Judge(s): Martin Coady


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Newborn calf beaten to death with shovels
Folsom, LA (US)

Incident Date: Saturday, Dec 19, 2009
County: Orleans

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted

Defendants/Suspects:
» Dwayne J. Jenkins
» David J. LeBlanc, Jr.
» Carnie B. Smith

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Three men have pleaded guilty to stealing a newborn calf from a farm and beating the animal to death with shovels last year after a night of drinking at a New Orleans Saints party was soured by the team's disappointing loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Dwayne Jenkins, left, David LeBlanc, center, and Carnie Smith pleaded guilty in the beating death of a newborn calf in December.

Dwayne J. Jenkins, David J. LeBlanc, Jr. and Carnie B. Smith stole the 3-day-old calf from Red Bluff Farm near Folsom -- known for its petting zoo that caters to school children -- and dragged the animal to a nearby apartment complex on Louisiana 1078 where the Saints party had been held on Dec. 19.

In the apartment complex's parking lot, the intoxicated men took out their frustrations by beating the calf to death with shovels, according to authorities.

On Monday, Jenkins, 36, of Mandeville, and LeBlanc, 22, of Gibson, pleaded guilty to aggravated cruelty to animals and theft of livestock.

While LeBlanc's sentencing was postponed, state Judge Martin Coady sentenced Jenkins to five years of probation. Coady also ordered Jenkins to help pay restitution for the cost of the animal, although that cost has not yet been determined, according to the district attorney's office.

Last week, Smith, 29, of Covington, pleaded guilty to aggravated cruelty to animals and theft of livestock; he also received five years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution.

Christopher Murphy pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of misdemeanor theft, and was sentenced to two years of probation.

A fourth man, Christopher R. Murphy, 27, of Franklinton, did not participate in stealing or killing the animal, but he removed the calf's carcass, drove into the wilderness and dumped it, according to the district attorney's office. Murphy pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of misdemeanor theft, and Coady sentenced him to two years of probation.

St. Tammany Assistant District Attorney Harold Bartholomew prosecuted all four cases.

Red Bluff Farm's literature describes itself as an open-air classroom "combining hands-on activities along with educational information ... to help create vivid and meaningful memories of how the farm touches our lives each and every day in so many ways."

Attempts to reach someone at the farm were unsuccessful Tuesday.

St. Tammany sheriff's deputies received a call from the farm and came out the Sunday morning after the game, which the Saints lost 24-17 in the Superdome. Deputies found evidence that the calf had been dragged under the farm's fence and footprints led deputies to the apartment complex.

One of the residents said she had heard a cow mooing loudly that morning, apparently the mother looking for her newborn, authorities said.


Case Updates

A Louisiana man was sentenced Monday to five years in prison for stealing a newborn calf and beating it to death with a shovel after the Saints lost to the Dallas Cowboys last season.

David J. LeBlanc Jr., one of four men convicted in the case, had asked for leniency, but state District Judge Martin Coady ignored his pleas, saying LeBlanc used "a dangerous weapon" to cause the "painful death" of a defenseless animal.

LeBlanc, 22, of Gibson, Dwayne J. Jenkins, 36, of Mandeville, and Carnie B. Smith, 29, of Covington, stole the 3-day-old calf from Folsom's Red Bluff Farms on Dec. 19, authorities said.

They dragged the animal to a parking lot where LeBlanc and his friends were gathered for a Saints party. That's where LeBlanc hit the calf with the shovel until it died. Jenkins and Smith watched.

Jenkins and Smith pleaded guilty to their roles and received probation. Another man, Christopher R. Murphy, 27, of Franklinton, removed the calf's carcass and dumped it. He pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of misdemeanor theft and also was placed on probation.

LeBlanc argued he deserved the same punishment if not a lighter one than the others because he was "the only one who came forth and told the truth" to investigators.

"The others lied the whole time," he said. "[Prison] would ruin my life completely. I have a kid on the way. I could not do that."

The Times-Picayune reports that the judge also ordered LeBlanc to undergo psychiatric evaluation and said LeBlanc could not be near animals for the duration of his sentence. He recommended LeBlanc apply for a boot camp program by which he could shave off part of his sentence, but acceptance into the program is not automatic.

After the hearing concluded, LeBlanc was handcuffed. He slumped into a bench and buried his face in his hands.
Source: dallasnews.com - Nov 30, 2010
Update posted on Dec 2, 2010 - 11:53AM 

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