Former TV anchorman says the authorities overreacted by seizing horses and bulls from thefamily farm
VERMONT -- A former longtime newsman at WCAX-TV in South Burlington are vowing to fight charges of animal cruelty arising from the seizure of three horses during a raid on their Shelburne home.
George C. Wilson, 63, pleaded not guilty during a brief arraignment Tuesday in Vermont Superior Court in Burlington, then told reporters he believes the authorities overreacted to the complaint at his farm.
His wife, Ann Gilbreth, 64, pleaded not guilty to an identical charge later in the day.
Judge Michael Kupersmith initially said he could not find probable cause to charge Gilbreth, because the Shelburne police affidavit did not state she also owned the horses. Chittenden County State’s Attorney T.J. Donovan said he would re-file the charge against Gilbreth after police provided the missing information, which they did by mid-afternoon.
The updated information noted that Shelburne town records show the couple co-own the property, and before Wilson allowed authorities to seize the horses, he consulted with his wife.
Wilson also told reporters after his arraignment that he and his wife co-own the animals.
“It’s my wife and I. It’s our operation,” Wilson said. “I wish she was left out of it. Her health isn’t terrific.”
The charge alleges they denied the animals adequate sanitation or necessary medical attention. If convicted, they face a possible one-year prison term and a $1,000 fine.
Wilson worked for about 34 years at WCAX as a reporter, anchor, assignment editor and assistant news editor, leaving the CBS affiliate in 2006.
Wilson and Gilbreth were released from court on conditions, including a ban on buying, owning or possessing large domestic animals. Public defenders Luke Collins and Rachel Westropp represented Wilson and Gilbreth at their hearings.
“There is a lot more in this matter and we will address it as this goes along,” Wilson said. “I don’t really want to go any further than that. ... It’s a long story. It’s a complicated story. We will tell it and keep you guys informed.”
Wilson, in a phone message, told the Burlington Free Press he would like to invite a reporter to tour the barn, but might have to wait.
Donovan said several bulls also were seized during the Jan. 15 raid at the barn, at the corner of Irish Hill Road and Heather Lane. Wilson opted to sell six bulls to a slaughterhouse in Addison County, court records state. The documents stated a seventh bull was found dead in the barn.
Authorities said one stallion and two mares were found in small, pitch-black stalls, standing in
manure and surrounded by the remains of dead horses. The three horses that were impounded are being cared for at Spring Hill Horse Rescue in Clarendon, health and police officials said.
“They have essentially been held captive for the last six or seven years,” Donovan said. The hooves were allowed to grow up to 24 inches. Neighbors thought the barn was empty and did not learn until the raid that horses were inside, Donovan said; nobody had seen them for years.
Deb Loring of Burlington of Spring Hill Horse Rescue in Chittenden County said her team spotted two carcases and several bones while impounding the three live horses.
Wilson said Spring Hill officials were turning the case into a media event. He said a Shelburne official who was part of the raid had promised the case would be handled in quietly.
“I was told by the town that they wanted to keep this as low-keyed as possible,” Wilson said. “The town did their part. The folks at the rescue have an agenda, and they played it out.”
Wilson said he did not recall who promised the town would try to avoid publicity in the case.
Longtime Police Chief James Warden continued to be unavailable for comment Tuesday. Multiple attempts to reach him at his office and his home since the raid have been unsuccessful.
The police said that Wilson tried to grab one of his rifles during the raid.
Donovan said he ordered Shelburne police to go back Tuesday morning with a search warrant and seize any guns, along with delivering to Wilson and Gilbreth citations ordering them into court immediately.
Wilson disputed that he had tried to go after his rifle, which was in the barn.
“I just never did. It never came to my mind. I was unhappy that we had a large invasion force come onto our property without any notice. Who would like that?” he said. “It was way, way, way, way, way, way, way overblown.”
Wilson said he left WCAX in 2006 when he was invited to join the campaign for Republican Martha Rainville, who was running against Peter Welch for a U.S. House seat. Wilson said at the last minute he decided she couldn’t win, so he opted to go work part-time at Walmart. Wilson said he left after 5-1/2 years.
He said he has been unemployed for about two years.
Wilson questioned how the raid was carried out. “The abuse took place when there was a rescue,” he said.
“It was as if the aliens landed at your house, took your dog, cat, your wife and absconded with them. And how would you feel as a horse with having a huge force come in, strangers, and take you away?”
(Burlington Free Press - Jan 29, 2013)
