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. 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. Try to resist the temptation to vote 1 star on every case, even if you feel that 100 years in prison isn’t enough.
Case #6766 Rating: 3.0 out of 5
19 severely neglected horses seized from trainer
Colonie, NY (US)Incident Date: Monday, Jul 1, 1996
County: Albany
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Marie Gaida
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
On May 14, 1997, Marie Gaida, a horse trainer from Colonie, NY, was convicted of cruelty to her 19 thoroughbred horses. The horses were found in the summer of 1996 on Gaida's property, suffering from extreme emaciation, rain scald, abscessed feet, lice and other serious medical problems. On August 5th, 1997, NYSHA assisted the Mohawk and Hudson River Humane Society, after a search and seizure order was obtained, in the rescue and placement of the 19 horses in private foster care.
The case remained pending for several months as Marie Gaida changed attorneys. During that time, she maintained her innocence, using the excuse that she brought the horses from Florida in poor condition and that she was trying to get them back into shape. However, a thorough investigation revealed that only seven of the 19 horses came from Florida. The other twelve were already on her property -- property that was described by a veterinarian who testified at the trial as a "concentration camp" for horses. After the jury saw the photographs of horses standing in feces up to their knees, horses suffering from rain rot due to lack of sufficient shelter and having multiple bite wounds from fighting for what little food they got, it took only 45 minutes to find Gaida guilty of cruelty to all of her 19 horses. Sentencing will be on June 25, 1997.
Case Updates| New misdemeanor charges came 11 years to the day after Marie Gaida was sentenced to 60 days in jail, ordered to pay more than $60,000 and surrender 19 horses seized from her property at 1133 Loudon Road, also known as Karl's Motel. | Source: More Info
Update posted on Jun 27, 2008 - 9:55AM |
References« NY State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Albany County, NY
|
