Friday, October 21, 2011

Florida: Ronnie Williams Gets Prison For 32 Greyhound Dog Deaths

FLORIDA -- Ronnie Williams, a greyhound trainer, entered a no-contest plea at the Washington County Courthouse on Thursday for 39 counts of animal cruelty.

“This case was one that shocked our consciences,” State Attorney Glenn Hess said. “We considered it important because it was horrendous.”


Over 30 greyhounds were found dead by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Williams’ kennel at the Ebro Greyhound Park on Oct. 29, 2010. 

  
  
 

Hess said veterinarians reported the dogs had been deprived of food and water from at least Oct. 1, 2010, until Oct. 29, 2010.

Five emaciated dogs were found alive with duct tape wrapped tightly around their neck, making it difficult for them to breathe, Hess said. They were taken by the state and treated.

Williams was originally charged with 42 counts of felony cruelty to animals, but it was found that three of the dogs had been euthanized, amending it to 39 felony counts.

 
  
 

Circuit Judge Chris Patterson sentenced Williams to five years for each count, to be served concurrently. Williams did not receive any credit for the year he has already served.

Update: If Circuit Judge Chris Patterson had ordered Ronnie Williams to serve his sentence consecutively (one after the other) rather than concurrently (all at the same time), Williams would have been facing 195 years in prison. Why bother telling someone you're giving them 5 year for each of the 39 felony counts when really all your saying is that he's going to prison for a few years. 

 In fact, Williams served just a little over 4 years and was released. So 195 years turns out to be 4 years in the judicial system. 
 
 
 

(Jackson County Floridian - October 20, 2011)

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