Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Florida: Greyhounds abuse suspect Ronnie Williams denied motion to dismiss charges

FLORIDA -- A Chipley man contends that while he may be responsible for the deaths of 37 dogs, he did not kill them.

But Judge Christopher Patterson denied a motion to dismiss 42 counts of felony animal cruelty against Ronald “Ronnie” Williams on Monday.


Williams is accused of letting 42 greyhounds in his care die of starvation, dehydration or asphyxia in a kennel at Ebro Greyhound Park.

Thirty-seven greyhounds were dead when an investigator with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation discovered them at Ebro on Oct. 29, 2010. Another five dogs still were alive among the decaying remains of the dead.




Three of the surviving animals had duct tape wrapped around their necks so tightly they were gasping for air when they were discovered, officials said. There was also duct tape wrapped around the neck of one of the dead dogs.

Deputy Public Defender Floyd Griffith filed a motion to dismiss the charges. In the motion, Griffith argued that, in the case of the animals with necks not wrapped in duct tape, whatever crime that occurred was only a misdemeanor because it was an act of omission rather than commission.

As for the dogs with the tape around their necks, Floyd wrote there is no evidence Williams was responsible.




Essentially, the motion argued Williams didn’t do anything to kill the dogs; they died as a result of what he allegedly didn’t do.

If Williams had shot the dogs, he would be guilty of felony animal cruelty because he would have acted intentionally.

Merely depriving the animals of necessary food, water or shelter until they die is only a first-degree misdemeanor, Floyd argued.

To deprive an animal of food and water until they die is an INTENTIONAL ACT. 


In the state’s response to the motion, Assistant State Attorney Erin Oliver wrote there was evidence Williams applied the duct tape.

Williams admitted to being custodian of the animals and was in “exclusive [sic] possession” of the kennel.

Even if the evidence is only circumstantial, it should be sufficient to withstand the motion to dismiss, she argued.

“If the state’s evidence is all circumstantial, whether it excludes all reasonable hypotheses of innocence may only be decided at trial, after all the evidence has been presented,” she wrote.



Patterson ruled on the motion without hearing oral arguments Monday because the facts were in dispute.

“I do find that there are material and disputed facts that do exist … and the court is required by law to deny your motion to dismiss, Mr. Williams, at this time,” Patterson said.

Denied, Floyd Griffith!!!!!

Patterson also ordered a subpoena for Williams to obtain records from the veterinarians who examined the animals.


(CNN - August 9, 2011)

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