He initially faced nine felony counts of “ill treatment of animals.” Each felony count was punishable by up to five years in prison and carries a minimum sentence of 180 days.
“The thought that our 9th Circuit Solicitor’s Office placed a price tag of just $56 on each of the animals who died while locked in that SUV in the searing Charleston heat two summers ago is almost too much for us to bear,” said Charleston Animal Society Chief Executive Officer Joe Elmore, “This was a slam-dunk case of animal cruelty.”
In court documents obtained by News 2, prosecutors could find no evidence to show that Bickerstaff willfully or knowingly intended to cause pain or suffering to his animals.
Instead, the state found evidence strongly showing Bickerstaff “loved his animals.”
But Joe Elmore of the Charleston Animal Society said Bickerstaff got off too easy. “This person should’ve been charged with ill treatment and there should’ve been nine counts.”
Bickerstaff was initially arrested on nine felony counts of ill-treating animals, but after pleading guilty to a single count of abandonment of animals, the more serious charges were dropped earlier this month.
Tonight, we went to Bickerstaff home on James Island to ask him about those dropped charges
Bickerstaff didn’t appear to be home.
Bickerstaff’s neighbor, Helen Turnage, said, “He loved his dogs. His wife loved their dogs. He is devastated by the entire experience. He mourns them and he made a huge mistake.”
Hey moron... Would you be defending him if he'd left his nine children in a hot car to die? Would you be saying, "He loved his kids. He just make a huge mistake and should be allowed to go on with his life and have more kids"??
Elmore told News 2, “It shouldn’t have happened. We are not saying that person intended to kill those animals, but the person demonstrated reckless behavior. This is a slam dunk animal cruelty case and the solicitor’s office is sending the message that animal cruelty is not taken seriously in Charleston County.”
“It continues to be our belief that those dogs perished because they were left in that car in the summer heat. Dr. Bickerstaff left the animals in the locked car for approximately three hours. Why the Solicitor’s office cut a deal instead of letting a jury decide justice in this felony case will haunt every animal lover in our community,” Elmore said, “Does the Solicitor’s office really believe there wasn’t evidence to prove this? Did each of these nine dogs just die by coincidence in a hot car on the same day at the same time?”
Charleston Animal Society is inviting people to join us for a “Candlelight Vigil to Protest Animal Cruelty Injustice” on Saturday at 6pm at the Charleston Animal Society Animal Care Campus at 2455 Remount Road. Those gathered will also remember each of the dogs who died: Lucinda, Money, Drayton, Madeline, Shelby, Katie, Butler, Freddie and Willis.
“These 9 dogs suffered an excruciating death that was completely preventable,” said Charleston Animal Society Director of Anti-Cruelty Aldwin Roman, “Justice was not served for these animals. How many more will have to suffer or die before justice is served?”
“Animals do not have a voice. We are their voice,” said Elmore, “and when an injustice of this magnitude occurs, we must step forward as a community and send a message to our justice system that they must do better by animals. We will not stand for this any longer.”
(WCBD News 2 - Jan 29, 2016)
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