Donkey dragged behind pickup truck
Pensacola, FL (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006
County: Escambia
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 6 files available
Defendants/Suspects:
» Terry Lynn Skinner
» Matthew Michael Ramsey
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
Two men face felony charges of animal cruelty after they allegedly dragged a donkey behind their pickup, according to authorities. Escambia County deputies said they found the donkey laying on the ground gasping for air with several severe open wounds. The animal had a rope tied around its neck with the other end tied to the bumper of a truck.
The suspects -- identified as Terry Lynn Skinner of Molino and Matthew Michael Ramsey of Cantonment -- told law enforcement officers they were trying to get the donkey to Skinner's home. Panhandle Equine Rescue transported the donkey to a veterinarian in Atmore, Ala., for treatment. Skinner and Ramsey were taken to Escambia County Jail.
Case UpdatesTwo Escambia County men accused of dragging a donkey behind their pickup along U.S. 29 earlier this year were sentenced Tuesday to nearly a year in jail and placed on two years' probation.
Matthew Michael Ramsey, 34, of Cantonment and Terry Lynn Skinner, 39, of Molino pleaded guilty Tuesday and received the same sentence, State Attorney Bill Eddins said in a news release.
The sentence included:
* 11 months, 15 days in jail.
* Two years' probation.
* $5,000 fine.
* $393 in court costs.
* Psychiatric evaluation and treatment, if recommended.
* No contact, possession or ownership of any livestock.
* Allow searches of their homes to ensure the well-being of any dogs.
* 50 hours of community service.
* Requirement to get and keep a job.
Ramsey and Skinner could have received up to five years in prison for the third-degree felony animal cruelty charge.
They were arrested March 25, accused of dragging a female donkey for 76 feet. At the time, they told deputies the animal refused to get in the pickup.
Panhandle Equine Rescue Inc. dubbed the donkey "Jenny" -- the term used to label a female donkey -- and began to care for it, said Diane Lowery, president of the group.
The rescue group took Jenny to a veterinarian, found foster care and found a family to adopt the animal.
Lowery said she and fellow rescue workers appreciated the efforts of prosecutors with the State Attorney's Office.
"We're just really happy it turned out this way," Lowery said. "We want to send the message that animal cruelty will not be tolerated in Escambia County."
Assistant State Attorney Bridgette Jensen prosecuted. Judge Jan Shackelford presided. Skinner had a public defender, and Ramsey had a court-appointed attorney, Peter Mitchell. | Source: Pensacola News-Journal - Nov 1, 2006
Update posted on Nov 1, 2006 - 2:25PM |
Two local men accused of dragging a donkey for nearly 80 feet behind their pickup last month made their first court appearance on Thursday.
Circuit Judge Nick Geeker appointed a public defender to represent Terry Lynn Skinner, 38, of Molino and Matthew Michael Ramsey, 34, of Cantonment. Both are charged with animal cruelty, a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
The pair were arrested on March 25 after the Escambia County Sheriff's Office received several calls about the incident at U.S. 29 near Sharon's Diner, formerly Fran's Diner.
Deputies said they found the 5-year-old female donkey, named Jenny, on the ground gasping for air, with several, severe, open wounds. A rope was tied around its neck, and the other end was tied to the truck's bumper.
Skinner and Ramsey told the officers they were trying to get the donkey to Skinner's home.
Their next court appearance is set for July 11.
Jenny is expected to make a full recovery. | Source: Pensacola News - April 14, 2006
Update posted on Apr 17, 2006 - 7:55PM |
References« FL State Animal Cruelty Map
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