Images for this Case
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. If were to vote 1 star all on every convicted case (meaning they felt the punishment was very weak), it will not help us isolate the cases that truly rise above for poor to excellent sentencing. 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, so the more honest you are, the better these programs will. Try to resist the temptation to vote 1 star on every case, even if you feel that 100 years in prison isn’t enough.
Rescue neglect - 43 dogs seized, 3 found dead
Russellville, AL (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Feb 10, 2005
County: Franklin
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 1 files available
Defendants/Suspects:
» Robert Lynn Corum
» Debera Denise Corum
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
When law enforcement authorities arrived at the site of Heavenly Angel Animal Rescue Center on the morning of Feb 10, they reportedly found dogs that were visibly malnourished, without water and feeding off dead deer carcasses.
Some were chained to trees, others were crammed into fenced-in areas and two were being kept under an abandoned truck camper shell, while others were running loose.
"It was real nasty and there was a strong odor of dead flesh. It was awful,'' said one deputy who was at the scene.
Franklin County authorities said they were called to investigate the situation after being notified by residents. The facility is east of Russellville.
Franklin County Sheriff Larry Plott said authorities found 43 dogs, including three dead dogs, and five cats.
Robert Lynn Corum, 38, and his 43-year-old wife, Debera Denise, of Alabama 24 East, Russellville, have each been charged with three counts of second-degree cruelty to cat or dog and having an unauthorized health dump.
The cruelty to cat or dog charge is a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to a year in jail if convicted. The other charge is punishable by a fine.
"It was a real sad situation,'' said Colbert County Animal Control Director Tommy Morson.
Morson's department was called to help the Franklin County Animal Control Department, the sheriff's office and the Franklin County Health Department with the situation.
Morson said his office offered advice and helped video and photograph the animals and the scene.
Plott said some of the animals had been fed deer carcass, and all of them appeared to be vastly malnourished.
"When they released one of the animals, it went straight for an old container with just a small amount of water in it,'' Plott said. "They didn't have any water. They were starving and in terrible shape.''
Investigators said the sides of many of the animals were sunk in, and their ribs were plainly visible.
"They were hoarding the animals and abusing them. There was no rescue to it,'' Morson said.
Authorities said some of the animals were kept in a small cage, while others were in a larger fenced area.
"Many were tied to trees and a lot were just running loose,'' Plott said.
Morson said there were a number of puppies running around loose suffering from Parvo, an intestinal virus that affects dogs. Investigators said they weren't sure how many of those would live.
Morson said his office is working with the Franklin County Animal Control Officer Grady Fuller to try and get the animals well and adopted.
The Corums are being held in the Franklin County Jail on bail of $2,000 each.
Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said the case will be heard in district court. The court date has not been set.
Case UpdatesRobert Lynn Corum, 38, of 28686 Alabama 24 East in Russellville, and his wife, Debra Denise Corum, 43, of the same address, were both convicted of three counts of second-degree cruelty to dogs or cats and one count of unauthorized dumping.
All four charges are misdemeanors, and both Corums could have faced up to four years in prison. District Judge Paula McDowell decided on a suspended sentence of 100 days on each of the abuse charges and 90 days on the dumping charge.
The sentences were suspended for two years, on the condition that the couple follow conditions set by McDowell, including not being allowed to own more than five pets at any time.
The two were also ordered to pay $1,114 each in fines and court costs.
"The evidence in the case showed both Mr. and Mrs. Corum placed dogs in conditions that no animal should have to live in," Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said. "Of the 48 animals, 16 died either there or later. I believe the most important part of the sentence was limiting how many animals they could own so they cannot make more animals suffer." | Source: Franklin County Times - July 29, 2005
Update posted on Jul 29, 2005 - 1:10PM |
References« AL State Animal Cruelty Map
|
