CONVICTED: Was justice served?
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Case #3685 Rating: 2.6 out of 5
Over 40 Cows Found Dead
Muskogee, OK (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Jan 26, 2005
County: Muskogee
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Joseph Flusche, Jr.
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
More than 40 dead cows found in a Muskogee man's pasture prompted a cruelty-to-animals investigation Tuesday, Muskogee County Sheriff Charles Pearson said. The dead cows were found on Joe Flusche's ranch, Sheriff's Deputy Jimmy Williams stated.
The investigation report will be completed today and sent to the district attorney, Williams stated.
Another 30 dead cows are believed to be already buried.
His wife, Brenda Flusche, told the Phoenix she doesn't believe 41 have died. She also said the cows died because of old age and the stress from being moved recently.
It was said Joe lost a lease of 7,000 acres, and we were forced to move these cows.
It allegedly appeared some of the cows died from not being wormed and just from malnutrition and improper care.
Deputies found about 400 head of cattle on the ranch and only four large bales of hay, Williams said.
Flusche stated he's got receipts where he bought several hundred dollars of medicine and several thousand dollars worth of feed -- and fed them $8,000 in feed from Nov. 1 until (Tuesday)," Williams said.
Deputies investigated after someone called in reporting seeing a "few dead cows" from the road, Williams said.
"We found much more than a few," he said. "There were old cows and calves."
Case UpdatesJoseph Flusche Jr., 52, received an 18-month deferred sentence after pleading no contest Tuesday to 16 counts of animal cruelty. If he commits no crime in the next 18 months, his record will be expunged, officials said.
Flusche also agreed to forfeit $9,048.05 paid to the Muskogee County District Court Clerk's Office from the sale of cattle in March 2005. Some money earlier went to care for the sick cattle, and the balance will go toward court costs, said Muskogee County Assistant District Attorney James Carnagey.
More than 40 head of cattle were found dead in January 2005 on Flusche's ranch near Muskogee. Flusche at the time blamed the death of the cattle on losing a lease on thousands of acres of land on what used to comprise the Butler Creek Ranch. Another 23 head deemed to be in jeopardy of dying within days were removed from his property. | Source: Muskogee Phoenix - Feb 5, 2008
Update posted on Feb 7, 2008 - 12:32AM |
References
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