Owner gets horses but faces charges
By Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published September 4, 2008 at 3:59 p.m.
Updated September 4, 2008 at 11:53 p.m.
The 28 horses allegedly neglected by a Jefferson County rancher have been returned to him, but he still faces charges at a trial slated to begin Sept. 25.
John McCulley is charged with 27 counts of animal cruelty arising from allegations that he neglected, but did not physically abuse, the horses on his property northwest of Arvada.
The horses were returned last week after the Jefferson County district attorney's office lost its appeals of a judge's decision that sheriff's deputies illegally entered a door to remove the horses.
County Judge Charles Hoppin "found that it had been an unlawful search and seizure," said Pam Russell, spokeswoman for the district attorney's office. "We were on the property legally, but it was illegal to go past the door to take the animals."
Meanwhile, Hildy Armour of Colorado Horse Rescue applauded McCulley for recently agreeing to let someone adopt one of the horses. "We're pleased," she said. "He did a very nice thing."
McCulley did not return telephone calls Thursday.
Russell said when deputies arrived at the ranch about a year ago, they found that there was no food for the horses.
A veterinarian testified that the horses all were thin.
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Suggest removal
roadstar writes:
Twenty-seven horses and no food for them? That's NEGLECT in capital letters! I can't believe they've been returned to him, irregardless of the legality. Would you return a child? I sure hope someone will check on these horses DAILY!