Animal cruelty and encouraging animal cruelty from others
Denver, CO (US)Date: Feb 1, 2000
Disposition: Convicted
Abuser/Suspect: Steven Meade
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available |
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On January 31st, 2001 KBPI radio announcer Steven Meade was convicted of animal cruelty after he instructed a station intern to drop a live hen from a 3rd floor balcony for an on air stunt. Meade encouraged listeners to bring small animals to the radio station so that they could be let loose on nearby Interstate highway 25. Meade stated to his listeners there would be an early spring if the animals survived, but there would be 6 more weeks of winter if they did not.
When one listener brought a hen to the station, Meade instructed an intern to throw the hen first from a second-story window, then from a 3rd floor balcony. The injured hen survived and was rescued by an employee of the Denver Dumb Friends League who was listening to the radio station at the time of the cruelty.
Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter, Jr. brought the charges against Meade to the courts after a complaint was filed by the Denver Dumb Friends League.
Meade (DOB 11/20/68) is also known as Willie B. was charged with one count of cruelty to animals on June 29, 2000. His court case began on August 1, 2000. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 12th, 2001 at which time he could receive up to 18 months in jail and a $5000 fine. Diane Balkin of the Denver Country District Attorney's office prosecuted the case against Meade.
The District Attorney's office received aobut 500 letters from 42 states and 8 foreign countries regarding this case.
A Denver area veterinarian has adopted the chicken and named it "Angel".
Meade faces additional separate charges in Boulder, CO for encouraging listeners in 2000 to take their four-wheel-drive vehicles onto sensitive habitat for what's been dubbed a "Mudfest". Case UpdatesThe FCC proposed a fine of $775,000 to Clear Channel Communications because of yet another shock jock on air program. This one involving Todd Clem (aka Bubba the Love Sponge) who promoted an on air slaughter of a wild boar in February 2001.
Clear Channel agreed to fire Bubba after deciding his show didn't fit the company's standards.
The FCC wants to hit Clear Channel with the single largest fine ever proposed for indecency because of Bubba's show which this time had included graphic discussions about sex and drugs.
The FCC had begun investigating Clear Channel Communications several years ago for shows Clear Channel's shock jock's began airing, including the animal cruelty cases's we have documented.
Now with the FCC hitting Clear Channel where it hurts most, we are encouraged that the policies of the Communications companies will be re-evaluated. | | Update posted on Feb 25, 2004 - 6:00AM |
References | The Denver District Attorney's Office | | The Humane Society of the United States | | The Associated Press | | The Denver Post |
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