PRESS RELEASE

LA/SPCA FEELS JUSTICE NOT BEING SERVED IN HORSE CRUELTY CASE THAT HAS BEEN ON-GOING SAGA FOR OVER A YEAR

NEW ORLEANS (5/29/08) - Convicted in December 2007 on ten counts of simple animal cruelty against horses, Dave Williams, 11514 Willow Drive, New Orleans has sought to have his conviction overturned in Orleans Criminal District Court’s Appellate Division. Judges Camille Buras (District H), Darryl Derbigny (District J), and Arthur Hunter (District K) presided over the appeal hearing on Friday, May 23.

The case against Williams has been a rollercoaster ride of both frustration and disappointment for the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (LA/SPCA), ever since 33 horses, suffering from neglect or worse, were discovered on Williams’ property on February 24, 2007. It has been over a year since the LA/SPCA and NOPD found a scene on Williams’ property that included the bodies of two dead horses, in a state of decomposition, and 31 barely-surviving horses. As Kathryn Destreza, LA/SPCA’s Director of Humane Law Enforcement, later described the scene: “It was deplorable. The horses were skin and bones, and standing in mud with no fresh water, hay or food. They were in dire need of medical attention.”

Ana Zorrilla, Chief Executive Officer of the LA/SPCA, points to a series of events that have led to the humane organization’s frustration over the court's handling of the case. LA/SPCA, the nonprofit investigating and leading the fight against animal cruelty in Louisiana, has seen charges reduced and in some instances, completely thrown out during court proceedings that continue to seem to weigh in Williams’ favor. While the case started out with 33 counts of animal cruelty, each count representing an individual horse seized from Williams’ property, the court reduced the charges to 23 counts and screened the charges down from aggravated cruelty to simple cruelty. The district attorney’s office said the charges were reduced from aggravated to simple due to the language of the laws.

In December 2007, during Williams’ trial 13 of the 23 counts were thrown out, many of which were related to some of the horses in the worst condition of all. “In this case the justice system is not working the way it’s supposed to be. Justice is not being served for the horses and the court system seems to have bypassed the process,” said Zorrilla.

Adding to the LA/SPCA's outrage, Williams received an extremely light sentence after being found guilty on the 10 counts. He was sentenced to a six-month suspended sentence, 40 hours of community service, and a $600 fine. In January 2008, Williams failed to appear in court for a hearing to determine whether he could reclaim ownership of some of the horses. A $25,000 bond was set and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Williams was never arrested and a bond was never posted. A second hearing date was held in April and again no appearance by Williams, and in this instance no bond was set for his failure to appear. However, despite his apparent invisibility in past court proceedings, Williams did appear in court last week when making his appeal to overturn his conviction.

Since February 2007, the LA/SPCA has worked with local veterinarians and equine centers in the area to nurse the horses back to health and place them in good foster or permanent homes. Veterinary care, feed costs, grooming, farrier service, and stable rentals have exceeded over $112,000, all of which has been covered by the LA/SPCA. Should the appeal court rule in Williams’ favor the LA/SPCA plans to appeal and continue fighting to prevent Williams from regaining custody of the abused horses.

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The Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is an organization devoted to improving the lives of animals and eliminating the homelessness, neglect and abuse that signal animal suffering. Chartered in 1888, our history has been paved with an understanding that only through an improved human-animal ethic can we better the lives of companion animals and that of our community. Our programs and services are infused with the highest standards of care and compassion.

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