Neglect and starvation of dogs Chester, VA (US) Incident Date: Friday, Jul 26, 2002 County: Chesterfield Local Map: available Disposition: Convicted Abusers/Suspects: » Geremy Motes » Lemuel Gerald Motes » Marsha Motes

Case ID: 1993 Classification: Neglect / Abandonment View more cases in VA (US) Login to Watch this Case

This is a summary of the July 26, 2002 case tried in Chesterfield County General District Court.

The cruelty charges were based on evidence of a mother dog who ate two of her puppies due to starvation.  Four other puppies died from malnutrition and hookworms.

The defendents were 22 year old Geremy Motes and his parents, Lemuel and Marsha Motes.  This case provoked one of the largest turn-outs of Courtwatchers since the inception of the program.

All three members of the Motes family were charged with 8 counts each of animal cruelty.  A video tape was shown of the scene during the trial.  Witnesses for the prosecution included:

A neighbor:  She initially reported the problem to the police.

Officer Michael, Chesterfield County Animal Control: The animal control investigator.

Dr. Blachnog, DPM:  She received the mother and one puppy and performed their medical exams.  The mother and surviving pupppy were found filthy, emaciated, dehydrated, malnourished, loaded with ticks, passing intestinal parasites.

(Both mother and surviving puppy are currently on the road to recovery, according to her testimony.)

Dr. William Dunnavant:  Performed the necropsy on the six dead animals. Four were intact puppies, two were carcasses - one skull, one jawbone.  All puppies were found to be infested with hookworms, severely dehydrated and malnourished with no body fat or muscle mass, with bleeding intestines and the beginning stages of Parvo.

Susan Richardson:  Evidence technician for Chesterfield County.

Defense attorneys separated the case between the son and parents, arguing that the parents had no responsibility in the case.  Geremy Motes was living in an apartment above the garage on his parents' property.

Judges Ruling:  Geremy was found guilty on all 8 counts of cruelty.  He received a sentence of 80 days in jail and 80 hours of community service.

Lemuel and Marsha Motes's case was postposed until September 11, 2002 at 8:30am at the Chesterfield Courthouse.

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