Wyoming: Michael Wood, 39, gets sympathetic judge to lower his bond. Why doesn't the judge have sympathy for the animals which suffered and starved to death at Wood's hands?

WYOMING -- The Clark man accused of starving horses to death faced new neglect charges in court Tuesday. He was charged with starving three dogs to death. But the circuit court judge in Cody set a much lower bond than the first time, although the defendant left Wyoming while out on bail.

 

39 year old Michael Aaron Wood was charged in January with neglect in the deaths of seven horses on his property, and in the starvation of six other horses. Authorities took those horses, and they have been adopted.

After Wood bailed out on a $7500 bond in January, Park County authorities charged him with starving three dogs to death. Six surviving dogs and cats were taken to the Park County Animal Shelter in Cody.

 

But, after a warrant was issued for Wood’s arrest, the Park County Sheriff’s office couldn’t find him, and asked the public for help in locating him. Wood was later found in Oregon, and Sheriff’s deputies brought him back to Cody Monday.

In court Tuesday, he plead not guilty to the new neglect charges. Assistant County Attorney Jim Davis asked the judge for a $7500 bond, but the judge set Wood’s bond at only $3500 cash.

 

Wood reportedly told the judge he wasn’t fleeing when he went to Oregon. He said he only wanted to get help from his family there.

(KCWY13 - Feb 23, 2016)

Earlier:

• Wyoming: Michael Wood, 39, charged with animal cruelty after police find dead dogs on his property
• Oregon: Clark man Michael Wood, wanted in animal neglect case, arrested in Oregon