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Case #4733 Rating: 3.3 out of 5
Farmed animal neglect - 39 horses and cows seized
Rush, CO (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Dec 8, 2004
County: El Paso
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Defendants/Suspects:
» Alan Manire
» Lori Manire
» Carina James - Dismissed
» Sheri Franklin - Dismissed
Case Updates: 3 update(s) available
Six months after authorities seized 39 sick, starving horses and cattle from a ranch in Rush, the 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office has filed felony charges against the husband and wife responsible for their care.
Lori and Alan Manire were each charged on May 13 with seven felonies, including aggravated cruelty to animals and theft of property and animals. Warrants were issued for their arrest, and bail was set at $50,000 each.
Although the Manires left the state months ago, officials said they think the couple are in Nevada and don't anticipate trouble extraditing them to Colorado.
Some have questioned the length of time it took the 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office to file charges.
"It took them six whole months?" said Carol Sauk, whose colt starved to death in November at the Manires' ranch. Tuesday, she said the delay gave the Manires time to leave the state.
Ann Hagerty, spokeswoman for the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, said the case was "logistically quite complicated" because of the number of animals involved and the fact that their purported owners lived all over the country. She said investigators submitted paperwork to prosecutors by the end of January.
Economic crime cases often take longer than others because of the documentation involved, chief deputy district attorney Lisa Kirkman said.
"It took awhile to put it all together," Kirkman said.
In November 2004, humane society officials began investigating the Manires, who were running a horse transport and boarding business on their property in Rush, about 40 miles east of Colorado Springs.
Authorities impounded 10 cattle and 29 horses, some of which were estimated to be up to 400 pounds underweight. One was dead.
Two horses were returned to people who could prove they were the owners; the others were adopted out.
Of 25 horses left at the ranch, 11 were returned to their owners, and a bank seized the others as part of a foreclosure on the property.�
In January 2005, Lori Manire said she was not responsible for the poor condition of the animals. She said the horses were underweight when she got them, and they remained thin despite her best efforts.
The investigation led to charges against two others.
Carina James, whose foal died in the Manires' care, was charged with misdemeanor cruelty on suspicion of seriously neglecting the hooves of a horse she later allegedly gave to the Manires.
Sheri Franklin was charged with two counts of misdemeanor cruelty for allegedly mistreating horses on her property. Authorities said they encountered her because the Manires allegedly moved horses to different farms in the area during the investigation.
Case UpdatesA former El Paso County rancher who pleaded guilty to an animal cruelty charge for starving a horse to death was ordered to pay more than $8,000 in restitution on April 19 over the objections of her lawyer.
Lori Manire, who now lives in Nevada, was ordered to pay about $8,200 to the horse's owners, the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region and the veterinarian who tried to save the horse.
Manire pleaded guilty to a felony cruelty to animals charge in March 2006 after Humane Society investigators found 39 sick, emaciated horses and cattle on her ranch in 2004. One horse died.
Her attorney, Shimon Kohn, argued the horse got sick while it was in Florida, not Colorado. He also said she shouldn't have to pay the vet for routine procedures he might have done.
But 4th Judicial District Judge David Gilbert found Manire's actions neglecting the horse were the reason for the restitution order, and he could see no evidence that vet did anything other than try to save the horse's life.
Manire served 90 days in jail and is serving a five year probation sentence.
Humane society officials called the case the worst they'd seen in 57 years.
Manire said the horses were in bad shape when she began caring for them but declined further comment. | Source: The Gazette - Apr 20, 2007
Update posted on Apr 23, 2007 - 4:53PM |
A couple from Rush have pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges. Lori and Alan Manire are accused of starving horses and cattle on their ranch in 2004. Authorities seized 30 horses and 10 cattle from the ranch. One horse had died and some of the animals were too weak to stand or hold their heads up.
An El Paso County District Judge ordered the couple to pay thousands of dollars in restitution to the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region. They've also been ordered to pay others who owned or adopted horses found at their ranch about 35 miles east of Colorado Springs. Lori Manire, who was charged with felony aggravated cruelty to animals, was sentenced to 90 days in jail and five years of probation. Alan Manire, who pleaded guilty to felony and misdemeanor animal-cruelty charges, was sentenced to probation. | Source: KKTV News - March 2006
Update posted on Mar 28, 2006 - 6:00PM |
The two former Rush residents wanted on felony charges of animal cruelty and theft were located and arrested in Nevada last week. Charged with seven felonies, Alan and Lori Manire were taken into custody without incident May 17, reported El Paso County Deputy District Attorney Lisa Kirkman.
Warrants had been put out for the Manires Mat 13 after charges were filed on behalf of the 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office. The charges, which included aggravated cruelty to animals and theft of both property and animals, were the result of a six month investigation spurred by allegations of abuse and neglect that took place at the Manires' horse boarding and transport business based in Rush. After investigations began in November, 29 horses and 10 cattle were confiscated by officials, most which were in poor health.
One day after their arrest, Alan and Lori Manire stood before a judge in a Nevada courtroom and waived their extradition rights. "What that means is that law enforcement has 20 days to go to Nevada and transport them back to El Paso County," explained Kirkman. "Transport by the Sheriff's Office will take place as soon as scheduling allows." | Source: Ranchland News - June 2, 2005
Update posted on Jun 4, 2005 - 12:54PM |
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