CONVICTED: Was justice served?
more information on voting
When you vote, you are voting on whether or not the punishment fit the crime, NOT on the severity of the case itself. If you feel the sentence was very weak, you would vote 1 star. If you feel the sentence was very strong, you would vote 5 stars.
Please vote honestly and realistically. These ratings will be used a a tool for many future programs, including a "People’s Choice" of best and worst sentencing, DA and judge "report cards", and more. Try to resist the temptation to vote 1 star on every case, even if you feel that 100 years in prison isn’t enough.
Case #2109 Rating: 2.3 out of 5
Neglecting over two dozen llamas
Salem, OR (US)Incident Date: Sunday, Jun 30, 2002
County: Marion
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Ross Ernest Tombleson
A Polk County judge sentenced Ross Tombleson, 51, Tuesday to two years of probation and 160 hours of community service. Judge William Horner also ordered Tombleson to pay a $3,000 fine and banned him from owning farm animals. Household pets are OK.
Though he was accused of neglecting more than two dozen llamas, Tombleson, who lives in Amity but kept the llamas on his property in West Salem, was found guilty of a single misdemeanor count of animal abuse last week in a nonjury trial.
The judge found that Tombleson caused the death of a llama by denying it food and water. Six other counts of animal abuse and neglect were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
Tombleson could have been sentenced to one year in jail, and Deputy District Attorney Aaron Felton recommended that Tombleson serve some time.
But defense Attorney Chris Lillegard said Tombleson forfeited the llamas, endured financial difficulties and had not had any other legal trouble since his July 2002 arrest.
Tombleson denied starving the animals, but told the judge that he had not provided enough medical care.
In July 2002, Polk County deputies found several dead llamas and seized at least 23 more. Some of those died, but others found homes through the Humane Society of the Willamette Valley.
After the sentencing, llama supporters told Felton how upset they were about the plea deal.
Toni Johnson of Waldport provided foster care for three of Tombleson's llamas. She said she would have preferred the case go to trial, even if a jury had acquitted Tombleson.
"I think what's really frightening about this case is the lack of importance that the district attorney's office placed on it, and the fact that once (Felton) filed the charges, (he) should have had more of a moral outrage than he did about this case," Johnson said.
Felton said it's always difficult to explain plea negotiations to those who have strong feelings about a case.
"I wish I had citizens so involved in all my cases. I truly do," Felton said. "It just indicates the level of care and love people have for animals, and it's a real sharp contrast to the kind of care Mr. Tombleson gave those animals." References« OR State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Marion County, OR
|
