Kenneth Morgan, of Hanover Twp., was sentenced Thursday in Butler County Area I Court to 90 days in jail and given a $700 fine. Judge Robert Lyons suspended 30 days of Morgan’s sentence and ordered him to immediately be taken into custody, despite the defendant’s request for time to get his affairs in order first.
Morgan’s wife, Debora (aka Deborah Morgan), who was also convicted of animal cruelty, received a 90-day jail sentence and $700 fine. However, Lyons suspended her entire sentence in favor of three years probation because the court believed she was less culpable for the condition of the animals in their care.
Before sentencing, Kenneth Morgan told the judge the couple had suffered a lot of public humiliation as a result of this situation. The Morgans were charged with animal cruelty in April after a search warrant at their Hanover Twp. farm turned up two dead horses and one that was still alive but “extremely thin,” according to the Animal Friends Humane Society.
“I am sorry we all had to be here today and this whole situation occurred,” he said.
But Lyons told both defendants he was troubled by their lack of remorse during the trial.
“You just don’t seem to get it,” Lyons told Kenneth Morgan. “You have no remorse for the cruelty you showed this animal.”
A jury found the couple guilty Monday night of animal cruelty, a second-degree misdemeanor, which carries a maximum sentence of up to 90 days in jail and a $750 fine. The charge is for the abuse of the animal that survived, because an exact cause of death for the other horses could not be proven.
The surviving horse was put into protective custody and is now thriving at a boarding facility, according to Meg Stephenson, executive director of Animal Friends Humane Society.
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| This is what the Morgans did to this horse.. |
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| This is the same horse, now recovered |
Lyons also ordered that Kenneth Morgan could no longer own animals and that Debora Morgan could not own any animals while she is on probation.
Kenneth Morgan called that ruling “a little steep and unnecessary.”
Debora Morgan was visibly shaken by the judge’s ruling as she sobbed throughout the proceeding, then crumbled to the floor outside of the courtroom afterward at the thought of having to give up her two dogs, including a beloved 10-year-old terrier.
She told the judge she was housebound and unaware of the horses’ condition.
“I don’t care if we can’t have horses,” she said. “Don’t take my dogs. They are very well cared for.”
Lyons permitted Debora Morgan to find a new home for her dogs, but the situation will be monitored by county humane officers.
Kenneth Morgan told the JournalNews he will appeal the conviction.
Butler County dog wardens had been to the Morgan residence several times over the years following numerous complaints regarding the condition of animals on the property, according to humane society officials.
Kenneth Morgan is a former Butler County sheriff’s deputy. He worked for the department from 1993 to 2010 when he resigned, according to sheriff’s office records. His personnel file shows he had several disciplinary actions that resulted in suspensions during his employment at the sheriff’s office, according to Lt. Mike Craft.
(Journal News - Aug 1, 2013)
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