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The Associated Press State &
Local Wire July 26, 2002
Three men plead guilty to animal abuse in beating calf
DATELINE: PINEVILLE, Mo.
Two southwest Missouri men and one
from Arkansas have pleaded guilty to felony animal abuse in the Memorial Day
weekend beating of a three-week-old calf. Before the plea, no one in the state
had ever pleaded guilty or been convicted of felony animal abuse in a case
involving livestock, state Humane Society officials said. Brent Colville, 27, of
Pineville, Rick Roark, 27, of Anderson, and Jeff East, 22, of Garfield, Ark.,
pleaded guilty Thursday in McDonald County Associate Circuit Court to one count
each of felony animal abuse and misdemeanor animal abuse. They were given
suspended sentences, placed on probation for three years, fined $1,000 and
ordered to do 300 hours of community service with the Missouri Department of
Conservation, McDonald County Prosecutor Steve Geeding said. Geeding said the
felony count stemmed from the men dragging the calf around and breaking its
spine. The misdemeanor count relates to "mental anguish" suffered by
the calf's mother, which apparently witnessed and tried to prevent its abuse.
The case marks a first time in Missouri that anyone has been convicted of animal
abuse for causing mental anguish to an animal, said Allen Miller, chief
statewide investigator for the Humane Society of Missouri. The calf and its
mother belonged to Bobby Parish, son of Noel area farmer Bob Parish. The abuse
took place May 25 on the Parish along the Elk River. Because of its broken
spine, the calf had to be euthanized on May 28. During court proceedings, the
defendants gave similar descriptions to the judge about their actions. "We
got drunk on the Elk River and went to Bob Parish's farm," Roark said.
"We caught a calf and dragged it around, and it had to be put down."
"We had too much to drink," Colville said. "We dragged a calf a
short distance, and it had to be put down," East said. "We apologized
and paid restitution." Geeding said the men got what they deserved
considering what they did. He said the fact that none of the three had a prior
criminal record played a role in his agreement to let them go without serving
any jail time. "I think these guys are not criminals, but they did a
criminal act that was not justified by them being drunk in any way, shape or
form," Geeding said. "They received a suspended imposition of
sentence, but these are still felony convictions and they will remain with
them." After their courtroom appearance, East and Roark both complained
that the incident had been blown out of proportion. "I'm glad it's over,
but it went too far," East said. "It should have been over when we
paid restitution to Bob Parish, but it's over." Roark said he was sorry for
the problems the men caused the Parish family. "I shook in my boots when we
went up to apologize to him," Roark said. "I respect Bob Parish and
his whole family a whole lot." Geeding said he dismissed charges against
William Ziemianin, 20, of Pineville, after he started cooperating with
investigators last week. Ziemianin had been charged with the other three shortly
after the incident, but charges were dismissed after all four men said he was
not involved in the abuse. Geeding re-filed the charges against Ziemianin when
he allegedly lied to investigators and failed to come to the courthouse to
provide a statement regarding what happened. Those charges were dismissed
Wednesday.
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