Farmed animal neglect - Ralston, WY

Tuesday, Mar 2, 2004

County: Park

Disposition: Convicted

Defendants/Suspects:
» Samantha Taylor
» Bill Chapman

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

A jury found a man and his daughter guilty of six counts of animal cruelty for not providing enough food and water for dozens of cows, horses, donkeys and mules. Bill Chapman and Samantha Taylor, who was to care for the animals while her father was away for a month, face up to six months in jail and a $750 fine on each count.

Chapman and Taylor were also charged with three counts of failing to remove or bury dead animals for five dead horses and one dead cow that were found on Chapman's property in Ralston.

Chapman was found not guilty Monday on all three counts. Taylor was found guilty on one count.
During the weeklong trial, Powell brand inspector Dan Hadden testified that he discovered 40 malnourished animals on Chapman's property on March 2, 2004.

Taylor said her father had been away for about a month and she had been told to feed the animals seven bales a day. She acknowledged that was not enough for so many animals.

Chapman denied neglecting the animals.

Case Updates

Fourteen horses, a mule and a donkey that were among 40 malnourished animals confiscated from a man and his daughter last year are to be auctioned off this weekend. Five dead horses and a dead cow were also found on the property of Bill Chapman, of Ralston. Chapman was out of town and the animals were in the care of his daughter, Samantha Taylor. The animals have been in Park County custody and are being cared for through donations. But prosecutor Jim Davis said the county doesn't have proper facilities for them. "We need to get rid of them. They're costing us money every day," he said. In March, Chapman and Taylor were found guilty of six counts of animal cruelty. Chapman was sentenced to 720 days in jail, with 360 days suspended, and fined $45,599; Taylor got 180 days, 150 of which were suspended, and was fined $1,380. "We'll have a buyer's agreement in which the purchaser agrees not to sell to the canner market for, say, at least a year," he said. "We thought this route was preferable." Both were also sentenced to three years of probation. They were found not guilty of three counts of failure to remove a dead animal.

Source: Casper Star Tribune Update posted on Jun 9, 2005 - 7:37PM

References

• « WY State Animal Cruelty Map
  « More cases in Park County, WY

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