Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: 58 cows starved to death

58 cows starved to death
Harrisonburg, VA (US)

Incident Date: Monday, Feb 10, 2003
County: Harrisonburg City
Local Map: available
Disposition: Convicted

Abuser/Suspect: Jennings B. Shifflett

Case Updates: 4 update(s) available

Case ID: 832

Classification: Neglect / Abandonment

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A farmer was charged with felony cruelty to animals for allegedly allowing a third of his cows to die of malnourishment.

A county animal control officer and a state veterinarian went to Greenmount Acres farm on Feb. 10 to investigate neighbors' complaints of animal cruelty. They found 58 dead cows in the field, many half buried in snow. The vet also killed three dying cows that were severly malnourished. Jennings B Shifflett, 62, was charged with felony cruelty, which carrries a maximum 5 year sentence. County officers were tracking down the rest of Shifflett's cattle, which he keeps at various farms throughout the area, to see if they are being neglected.

During the preliminary hearing on the felony charge, Judge William Heatwole also convicted Shifflett of 15 misdemeanor counts of not properly disposing of dead cows.

Heatwole ordered Shifflett to pay the maximum $15,000 fine, but suspended half of it as long as the farmer does not acquire more livestock.

Shifflett was convicted of animal cruelty in 1999 and 2000 in cases involving livestock. In 2000, Heatwole put Shifflett on probation for two years and ordered him not to own more than 50 cows.

Case Updates

Shifflett, who pleaded guilty to animal cruelty for allowing 70 cows to starve will not be allowed to serve his six-month sentence under electronic monitoring at his home, a judge ruled. Circuit Judge James V. Lane rejected Jennings Shifflett's plea Monday and ordered him to serve his sentence in jail. Shifflett, 62, also will serve two years of probation.

Shifflett testified that he did not intend to be cruel to the animals. He said he lost track of them after becoming depressed and suicidal after a failed marriage.

Shifflett pleaded guilty in May to 15 misdemeanor counts of failure to dispose of dead animals, nine misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and one count of felony animal cruelty. His lawyer argued that Shifflett should be placed on a home electronic monitoring system, but Commonwealth's Attorney Marsha Garst vehemently opposed that idea.

"I see nothing that would justify a home electronic monitoring system," Garst said.

Lane told Shifflett he will have to find a new career when he gets out of jail. "You certainly don't belong in the farming business," he said. "That part of your life is over."

Update posted on Jul 25, 2003 - 9:42PM

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Guilty verdicts were handed down - Shifflett entered into a plea agreement on one felony count of animal cruelty, nine counts of animal neglect and 15 counts of inappropriate animal disposal.
Read More: Daily Press

Update posted on May 15, 2003 - 7:27AM

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Please also cc your letters to the judge who will be presiding over Shifflett's case:

The Honorable James V.Lane
Rockingham Circuit Court
Courthouse Court Square
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Fax: 540- 564 -3127

Update posted on Mar 28, 2003 - 10:19AM

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You can contact Rockingham County District Attorney Marsha Garst and thank her for pursuing cruelty charges against Mr. Shifflett. Let her know that the felony animal cruelty charge is especially commendable, and that you look forward to its aggressive prosecution to address the senseless animal
suffering.

Marsha Garst
Rockingham County Commonwealth Attorney
53 Court Sq Ste 210
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Phone: 540-564-3350
Fax: 540-433-9161

Update posted on Mar 28, 2003 - 10:18AM

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References

	Associated Press, dated Feb 17, 2003, Article: Farmer Charged After 58 Dead Cows Found in Field
	DailyPress.Com

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58 cows starved to deathHarrisonburg, VA (US)

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58 cows starved to death
Harrisonburg, VA (US)