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Case #16754 Rating: 1.0 out of 5
70 dogs found chained
Hinkley, CA (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Oct 28, 2010
County: San Bernardino
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Defendants/Suspects:
» Mardell Stovall, Jr.
» Cindy Downing
Case Updates: 3 update(s) available
Mardell Stovall, who keeps approximately 70 dogs on his property in Hinkley, was arrested along with his sister Cindy Downing at the Barstow Courthouse Thursday morning on animal cruelty charges.
Stovall said that he takes in strays and other unwanted dogs for a better life at his rural 20 acre spread on State Highway 58, but prosecutors filed charges based on reports of county animal control officers.
The Stovall family was in legal trouble previously when Stovall's late father, Mardell Stovall Sr., was found guilty of operating an illegal kennel or cattery in 2005. A judge dismissed the charges after Stovall reduced the number of animals on his property.
Brieann Durose, prosecutor for the case, is currently on leave and could not be reached for comment.
San Bernardino County Animal Control Program Manager Greg Beck said that charges were filed based on the condition of animals that county officers observed, but would not elaborate citing a pending criminal case.
Downing said that animal control officers who visited the property didn't like the fact that many of the dogs were restrained with chains.
Stovall and Downing's sister, Rebecca Banuelos, who lives in Riverside, said she was shocked when she heard the news of her sibling's arrest Thursday morning, and that Stovall and Downing need to be home to assist their other siblings -- who suffer from a blood disorder -- at the property.
"There is nothing cruel going on (at the property), there is no cruelty," said Banuelos. "The only cruelty is from county officials."
Currently, Stovall faces 30 counts of animal cruelty as well as numerous violations of county code for possessing unvaccinated and unlicensed dogs.
Stovall and Downing were booked into the Barstow Sheriff's jail Thursday morning in lieu of $100,000 bail each and transferred to West Valley Detention Center that afternoon.
Stovall and Downing have a pre-preliminary hearing scheduled for Nov. 3 at the Barstow courthouse. Officials from the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office were unable to provide an estimated sentence if Stovall and Downing are convicted.
Case UpdatesA Hinkley man left to take care of his family's dog compound after his siblings were restricted from the property has been given time to remove some of the dogs before facing punishment.
On Monday Judge Cheryl Kersey gave Terry Stovall until Feb. 28 to remove 15 dogs from his property, and arraignment on 133 county and health code infractions related to the dogs was pushed until then.
Stovall's sister Cindy Downing and brother Mardell Stovall both faced over 30 felony animal cruelty charges and pleaded no contest to one count of animal cruelty on Nov. 8, and agreed not to own any animals, care for animals, or have any animals on property where they live for four years as condition or a plea bargain agreement.
To avoid seizure of the dogs, remaining caretaker Terry declared the dogs abandoned Nov. 8, but was deemed responsible for them when they remained after five days.
Animal control officials said in November they plan to monitor the property and not remove any animals from the property unless they are suffering a substantial injury.
Terry's nephew Christopher Gardner said a large number of dogs on the property have already found homes in a shelter, and he is working with Terry to remove more. | Source: desertdispatch.com - Dec 21, 2010
Update posted on Dec 21, 2010 - 9:38PM |
Two siblings who own more than 70 dogs and other animals on their 20 acre property in Hinkley pleaded no contest to one count of misdemeanor animal cruelty in a plea bargain agreement at the Barstow courthouse on Monday afternoon.
As part of the plea agreement, Cindy Downing and Mardell Stovall will face four years probation prohibiting them from having any pets or animals in their care or control or on the property where they live. They also face fines of $180 each and are subject to having their property searched.
Shortly after Downing and Stovall made the plea, animal control officers arrived on the Stovall property on Highway 58 to evaluate the condition of animals on the property and were prepared to issue citations to Terry Stovall, who looked after the property after his siblings were arrested.
Terry agreed to declare the animals abandoned to avoid being cited, and has until 3 p.m. Tuesday to remove the animals from the property. After 3 p.m., they may be seized by animal control officers.
Brian Cronin, Chief of county animal control, said that the animals may not be taken immediately if they are provided with food and water. Cronin says he hopes someone will come forward and take responsibility for the animals. Anyone who does identify themselves as owners of the animals would face approximately $10,000 in fines.
Downing and Stovall originally faced 30 felony counts of animal cruelty for not providing adequate shade for their animals. They were arrested and taken into custody on Oct. 8.
Downing and Stovall's late father, Mardell Stovall Sr., has kept dogs on the property since moving there in 1985. The Stovalls were in trouble previously in 2005 when Stovall Sr. was found guilty of operating an illegal kennel and cattery. The conviction was later dropped when Stovall Sr. agreed to reduce the number of animals on his property.
Per county code, the Stovalls can only have 4 dogs or cats on their property.
Steve Gardner, nephew of Terry, said that his family will try to contact animal shelters and give the estimated 73 dogs, 30 cats, goat and donkey away before 3 p.m. Tuesday.
Terry is keeping the family's horse, and has until 3 p.m. Tuesday to construct a shelter.
Those who wish adopt one of the dogs may call Downing and Stovall's sister, Rebecca Banuelos, at 909-831-5136. | Source: desertdispatch.com - Nov 8, 2010
Update posted on Nov 8, 2010 - 8:32PM |
Terry Stovall and his relatives are busy taking care of the their family's 70 dogs and other assorted animals after his brother Mardell Stovall Jr. and sister Cindy Downing were arrested Friday on animal cruelty charges and taken to jail.
Terry Stovall said that taking care of animals on the 20-acre property is a full-time job for the family. He lives at a house on the property with two other siblings and a nephew.
"It's non-stop," said Terry. "(Mardell) used to stay up all night looking after the dogs and he would go to sleep during the day. There's always someone checking up on them."
The dogs go through an entire pallet of food �" 21 sacks �" every week.
The Stovall family have operated the dog compound �" taking in strays and other unwanted dogs �" since moving to Hinkley in 1985. Terry's late father, Mardell Stovall Sr., was found guilty of violating county codes due to the large number of animals on his property in 2005 but charges were later dropped after the family agreed to reduce the number of animals.
Brian Cronin, Chief of San Bernardino Animal Care and Control, said that he was not aware that Downing and Stovall were arrested when contacted by the Desert Dispatch Monday morning, and county animal control officers made a visit to the Stovalls' 20 acres along Highway 58 Monday afternoon.
Cronin said animal control officers found additional violations at the Stovall property, including animals that did not have proper shelter, and that Monday's report would be forwarded to the district attorney's office for review and possible additional charges.
Cronin said that animal control will continue to monitor the property and do not plan to seize any animals unless they are in danger.
"Our major concern is that there is someone there to provide care for the animals," said Cronin. "We will not seize an animal unless it is in immediate danger. A broken leg would be an example. We look at (the issue of seizing animals) on a case-to-case basis."
Terry said that a kennel license has been obtained for the property and they are working to construct shelters for the dogs, some of which were blown down during a recent storm.
Downing and Dovall are scheduled for a pre-preliminary hearing on Wednesday for 30 counts of animal cruelty. Their bail is set at $100,000 each. | Source: desertdispatch.com - Nov 1, 2010
Update posted on Nov 1, 2010 - 8:04PM |
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