Each defendant was found not guilty on all four counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty that they were charged with, according to Clerk of Court Kathy Jones.
The charges of animal cruelty were tied to allegations that Hatlee and Swift had neglected seven horses at the Echo Valley Ranch on Park County Road 70 east of Bailey.
Eleventh Judicial District Attorney Thom LeDoux and attorney for the defense Darrell Campbell presented final arguments to the jury on Thursday, with a rebuttal coming from LeDoux prior to the jury taking the case for deliberation, which it started at about 5 p.m. Thursday.
The jurors were told to look at three aspects of animal cruelty charges: knowingly, recklessly or with criminal intent. They were told they could decide on one, two or all three aspects of the charges – or none.
In finishing up his arguments, LeDoux had focused mainly on a visual presentation of the six horses, pointing out their lack of weight in the first group of photographs and how those same horses appeared in healthy condition in a second group of photographs.
He had stressed that the horses needed “nothing more than food and water” and with just that, the horses improved.
LeDoux had added that their condition was such that both veterinary care and basic sustenance had been denied. He said the horses’ poor condition was due to neglect on the part of Swift and Hatlee.
“For that negligence and for these horses, I ask that you find these defendants guilty as charged,” LeDoux said.
On the other hand, Campbell, the attorney for the two defendants, had said in his final arguments that the prosecution’s case may have started out with starvation of the horses and then “morphed” into the accused “not following proper care” due to questions raised during testimony from expert witnesses who said they could not rule out other factors such as toxic weeds.
Campbell had emphasized that the two ranchers had many years of experience with horses, kept them fed and watered, and tried to seek out the answers as to why the horses were not maintaining weight.
He had pointed out the ranchers had been given a 30-day “re-feeding program” to allow time for the horses to improve – which was being followed. However, a few days later the horses were taken from the ranch, long before the 30 days were up.
Campbell had also emphasized the love the ranchers had for their horses. Gesturing with his hand toward Swift and Hatlee, he said, “Do you think these people are cruel? Do they appear to be the type of people to ignore their horses? They have a passion for their horses.”
After not reaching a verdict late Thursday, the jury reconvened on Friday morning and finally reached their not guilty verdict on all counts for both defendants Friday afternoon, March 1.
(The Flume - March 1, 2013)
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