Pierce County prosecutors charged two men with first-degree animal cruelty Friday, accusing them of killing a dog with a bow and arrow after tying it to a tree.
Twenty-year-old Steven Paulson and 18-year-old Troy Loney are each charged with one count of the felony.
Investigators allege that on March 8, they roped the dog, probably a Siberian husky, to a tree near Wilkeson Elementary School and shot it "numerous times" using a bow and one arrow.
A witness said the men took turns and shot the dog at least 10 times. Prosecutors said that after the dog died, the men threw its body into Wilkeson Creek.
If convicted, the two men could face maximum prison sentences of five years and fines of $10,000, although sentencing guidelines for a first offense call for less jail time.
Police said Paulson is the son of Wilkeson Mayor Doug Paulson. Case Updates| Posted on Nov 19, 2004 - 7:16AM | Two men who were convicted of felony animal cruelty after firing an arrow repeatedly into a stray dog until it died have been released from jail weeks early. The Pierce County Jail released Troy Loney and Steven Paulson on Saturday as part of a court-ordered effort to relieve jail overcrowding.
Helena Shelley, a longtime Tacoma advocate for animals, doubted that much could be done because of the inmate overcrowding problem at the Pierce County Jail.
Sheriff�s spokesman Ed Troyer said jail officials use established standards to determine who gets released early if the jail population is above the daily level set by a federal court. The jail cannot ignore it because it leaves the county vulnerable to lawsuits alleging improper treatment of inmates, he said.
"We�re under a federal court order," Troyer said. �We don�t like it, but we do it.�
Many victims, like those of a burglary, also express concern and anger when they learn the person who cleaned out their home is released early, he said.
The sheriff�s department has enough jail space to accommodate many more inmates, but it can�t because the county lacks funds to pay for more jailers. Twice in the past year voters have turned down taxing options that would have funded more corrections officers, Troyer said.
�You get as much justice as you pay for,� he said.
In the event of overcrowding, jailers first release convicts who have committed crimes against property; next are those guilty of misdemeanors and lower-class felonies, such as animal cruelty.
Convicts who committed crimes against people are not released early, Troyer said.
Prosecutors and an eyewitness said the defendants tied the stray Siberian husky to a tree near Wilkeson Elementary School on March 8 and shot it to death using a hunting bow and dull-pointed target arrows. The witness saw them use the same arrow at least twice after pulling it out of the dog�s body.
Shelley and others wanted both men to receive the maximum sentence, a year in jail. But Superior Court Judge Thomas Felnagle sentenced them on Oct. 1 to eight months in jail and 240 hours of community service after a trial that attracted national interest.
Loney, 19, of Tacoma, got out 37 days early; Paulson, 21, of Wilkenson, got out 67 days early. Both received credit for jail time served before conviction and were on track to get time off for good behavior.
In all, Loney served a total of more than five months of his sentence; Paulson served more than four months. Neither Loney nor Paulson could be reached for comment Wednesday.
The prosecutor�s office, which had nothing to do with the early release, expressed regret.
�I�m very sorry that it happened and I don�t think they should have been released early,� said deputy prosecutor Dennis Ashman.
The judge ordered both men to community service at the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County in lieu of more jail time.
Felnagle also ordered the men to undergo eight to 10 weeks of special mental health treatment for animal abusers before they begin serving their community service.
Each man must pay a civil penalty of $1,000 and a $500 crime victim fee and other court costs.
Judge Felnagle set a sentencing compliance review hearing for next August, Ashman said. | | Source: The News Tribune - Nov 18, 2004 |
| Posted on Oct 4, 2004 - 7:17AM | Judge Tom Felnagle sentenced the two Wilkeson men to nine months in jail for shooting and killing a stray dog Siberian husky with target arrows.
Judge Felnagle told a packed courtroom that he could not sentence the two to more than one year in the county jail. He chose a sentence of nine months based in part on the two men's prior record.
Loney has past convictions for child molestation and failure to register as a sex offender. Paulson has three prior convictions -- two for burglary and one for forgery.
The judge suspended one month of the nine month jail sentences on the condition that the two complete an anti-cruelty treatment programs put together by the Pierce County Humane Society. He also sentenced them to 240 hours of community service at the animal shelter.
Susan Michaels of Pasado's Safe Haven termed the jail sentence, "far too short" and said she would go to Olympia to try to get penalties increased.
Loney apologized to the court for his role in the killing of the stray dog. Paulson chose to say nothing. | | Source: KOMO-TV - October 1, 2004 |
| Posted on Sep 2, 2004 - 10:47PM | A Pierce County judge declared two men guilty of felony animal cruelty Thursday afternoon.
Superior Court Judge Thomas Felnagle said that Troy Loney of Tacoma and Steven Paulson of Wilkeson were inconsistent and lacked credibility in their explanation of why they killed a stray Siberian Husky last spring.
The defendants were led away in handcuffs. "Happy trails," someone whispered in the crowded courtroom.
They tied the dog to a tree and killed it with a bow and arrow on March 8 near Wilkeson Elementary School. Prosecutors said they reused the same arrow at least twice. Loney said they shot the dog twice to put it down after they couldn't find a home for it, using two separate arrows and a hunting bow.
The men, who waived their right to a jury trial, will be sentenced in Felnagle's courtroom Oct. 1 at 1:30 p.m. They face one year in prison. | | Source: The News Tribune - Sept 2, 2004 |
| Posted on Sep 1, 2004 - 5:54PM | The trial began Tuesday for Loney and Paulson, accused of killing a dog with a bow and arrow. They are charged with first-degree animal cruelty. If convicted of the felony in Pierce County Superior Court, the men could face a maximum year in prison.
About 50 animal welfare activists filled the courtroom in Tacoma where two men are on trail. Carpools were arranged by the group "Pasado's Safe Haven," which is demanding jail time for the two.
According to court papers, Loney and Paulson tied a stray Siberian husky to a tree near Wilkeson Elementary School. The men are accused of shooting the dog with a bow and arrow, removing the arrow and repeating the act 10 times before dumping the dog's body into Wilkeson Creek. The body was not recovered.
Lawyers for the two men say that there must be significant suffering before a felony charge is warranted and that the pair had no intention of torturing the dog.
Loney has said the dog was thin and mangy and they put it out of its misery.
Paulson's lawyer, Philip Bolland, contends the prosecutor's office did not have enough facts to support a felony animal cruelty charge. Deputy Prosecutor Dennis Ashman said the method the men chose to kill the dog ensured it would suffer unduly. | | Source: KIRO-TV - August 31, 2004 |
| Posted on Apr 26, 2004 - 3:35PM | NEXT HEARING:
May 12th, 1:00p.m.
Loney & Paulson's attorney is asking for a change of venue (meaning to move the trial out of Pierce County) and for a continuance (meaning their attorney needs more time to prepare for the trial.). A continuance is typical in all trial cases.
TRIAL DATE SET
Wednesday, May 19th 8:30 a.m. |
| Posted on Apr 4, 2004 - 12:33PM | It was revealed that Steven L. Paulson, the son of the mayor of Wilkeson, had been previously convicted of assault, robbery, and forgery.
Troy L. Loney, 18, the other man who admits to shooting the dog with a bow & arrow, was convicted of child molestation in 1999.
Read more: Back to Top| Posted on Apr 2, 2004 - 3:22AM | Carpools to court
Pasado's Safe Haven animal sanctuary has organized carpools to the arraignment, which will be held Friday, April 2, at approximately 1:30 p.m. in the City/County Building, 930 Tacoma St., Courtroom CD-1, Room 560.
Carpools will leave at 10:30 a.m. from:
Park n' Ride Kirkland: 7024 116th Ave NE, Kirkland, WA 98033-8105
Park n' Ride Northgate: 10001 1st Ave NE Seattle, WA 98125 (East side of I-5 near the mall) |
| Posted on Mar 30, 2004 - 4:09AM | Arraignment for both Paulson and Loney is set for the afternoon of Friday April 2, 2004 in Pierce County Superior Court.
Pierce County Superior Court
Room 534, County-City Building
930 Tacoma Avenue South
Tacoma, WA 98402 |
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