Animal neglect - 4 horses, 11 dogs, others
Lebanon, OR (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Feb 24, 2005
County: Linn
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Curtis Anthony Wilcox
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Curtis Anthony Wilcox, 47, faces multiple charges stemming from authorities' reported February 24 discovery of four starving horses, a mule, 11 dogs, and a caged raccoon languishing on his property. News sources state that Wilcox pleaded no contest to similar animal neglect charges last year. Wilcox is scheduled to face these current charges in court on Wednesday, March 30.
Prosecutor's contact information:
The Honorable Jason Carlile
Linn County District Attorney
P.O. Box 100
Albany, OR 97321
Case UpdatesCurtix Wilcox was found guilty of three counts of first-degree animal neglect on Nov. 2 in Linn County Circuit Court for the lack of care he gave to three horses on his property.
Linn County Circuit Judge Glen Baisinger found Wilcox not guilty on other charges, second-degree animal neglect and a hunting violation. The charge of second-degree animal neglect stemmed from the condition of dogs on his property. The hunting violation was in regard to a deer tag.
The case began in February, when the Linn County Sheriff's Office removed starving horses from Wilcox's property.
During closing arguments of the day-and-a-half trial, Deputy District Attorney Douglas Prince said that a veterinarian who examined the horses had found them to be "extremely emaciated."
Witnesses during the trial testified that they had seen the condition of one of the horses, a white-gray gelding, decline since the animal arrived at Wilcox's property.
The defense stated that Wilcox took in horses or bought horses which he would later kill and feed to his dogs, but that he did not let them starve. He said it would not have made too much sense for him to keep the horses thin since they were to be used to feed dogs.
"It's easy to dislike how Mr. Wilcox conducts his business," said defense attorney Kirk Tibbetts, "but it does not make him guilty of a crime."
The three horses removed from Wilcox's property were put into foster care and have since been rehabilitated.
Wilcox also was found guilty of unlawful wildlife holding for keeping a raccoon caged on his property.
The defense argued the animal was in a trap, and had been there for less than a day.
Sentencing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Nov. 16.
According to records at the Linn County Courthouse, Wilcox pleaded no contest and was convicted of second-degree animal neglect in March 2004. | Source: Lebanon Express - Nov 9, 2005
Update posted on Nov 10, 2005 - 7:53PM |
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