SECOND PARTY INVOLVED CONVICTED AUGUST 31, 2005

UPDATE: As of October 26, the Colusa County District Attorney's office filed felony animal abuse charges last week against Clark Friel, the College City property owner who boarded "Hope". According to the DA's Investigator Pamela Craig, Friel said he sold the horse to Sally Keaton over a year ago but she never picked up the horse. Friel said he didn't own the horse so it wasn't his responsibility to take care of it. Investigator Craig said according to the Penal Code responsibility lies with "Any person who has charge or control of an animal as owner or otherwise..."  Sally Keaton's preliminary hearing is set for Tuesday November 2 at 1:30 before Colusa Judge Tiernan in the Colusa Courthouse Annex. No court date has been set for Mr. Friel.

TRIAL UPDATE: Sally Keaton entered a plea of not guilty. Her preliminary trial is set for Wednesday, December 8th at 9:00 am at the Colusa County Court, Annex building.

UPDATE: The date for Sally Keaton's preliminary trial has been set for Wednesday, January 19th at 10:30 am, in the court of Judge Tiernan located in the Colusa County Courthouse Annex, Colusa, CA. The public is welcome to attend.

UPDATE: "Sally Keaton arrived in Judge Tiernan's courtroom on Wed. January 20th for her preliminary trial. With her attorney present, Sally waived her right to a preliminary hearing regarding the charges against her for animal abuse. The next court date is scheduled for Monday, February 14th at 9 a.m., in Dept. 1 which is located upstairs in the Colusa County Courthouse. We will continue to keep the public informed until this case is settled."

UPDATE: In January, Sally Keaton and her attorney chose to remove Judge Able from the case where she is charged with felony animal cruelty. Keaton will appear March 9h in front of Judge Tiernan and a trial date will be set at that time. Clark Friel, Jr., the owner of the property that boarded "Hope" and he was the previous over of the animal (please see the original article), has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for animal cruelty. He will be sentenced in Judge Tiernan's court on Wed. March 9th at 1:30 p.m.

UPDATE: Once again Sally Keaton arrived in court on March 9th and once again she and her attorney have asked for a delay. They are securing an expert witness for their side. Judge Tiernan announced that he would grant one final delay. The next court date is set for Wednesday April 6th at 9am and at that time a trial date will be confirmed for either June 9th or June 16th.

Mr. Clark Friel, Jr. was also in court on March 9th, appearing in front of Judge Tiernan. He was to be sentenced according to the recommendations from the Probation Dept., for his guilty plea to a misdemeanor of animal cruelty. The recommendations were community service and no fines. Mr. Friel's attorney said Mr. Friel couldn't do community service hours because of his physical disability. (What that disability was, was not mentioned to the public.)

After the judge viewed pictures of the horse's hooves, he stated that Mr. Friel "is responsible for a bigger load than what the probation dept. has come up with". Therefore, Judge Tiernan has delayed Mr. Friel's sentencing until after Keaton's trial.
Sally Keaton's case will go to trial June 9th or June 16th and the judge has moved Mr. Friel's sentencing to July 20th at 1:30.
 

UPDATE: Judge Tiernan has finally set August 17, 2005 at 8:30am as the trial date for Sally Keaton where she is charged with felony animal cruelty. She will appear before Judge Tiernan at the Colusa County Courthouse Annex.

FINAL UPDATE:

On August 3 2005, Sally Keaton of Dunnigan, CA pled guilty to felony charges of animal cruelty in Colusa County Superior Court. Attorney John Poyner said she avoided going to trial by putting in the plea of guilty. She received 3 years probation, 45 days in the Colusa County jail and 30 days in the County adult work program. The terms of probation were not available.

Clark Friel, who had the horse on his property for a year waiting for Keaton to move the animal, has pled no contest. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 23 in the Colusa County Superior Court, Annex Building on Oak St.

Thank you to District Attorney John Poyner, for pursuing this as a felony and never wavering, to D.A. Investigator Craig, Animal Control Officer Elliott and the Colusa County Sheriff Dept. for bringing this case to the attention of the public and not allowing it to fall into the bureaucratic depths of the big file drawer. And most of all, thank you to the courageous citizen who first made the call for help for Miss Hope, how grateful we are to you for stepping forward. It all starts with a phone call……

On Wednesday August 31, 2005, Clark Friel, Jr. sat before Judge Tiernan to face sentencing for his participation in the animal cruelty case of the neglected mare "Miss Hope". Judge Tiernan admonished Friel for not stepping in to help the horse when he could plainly see that the animal was not being taken care of humanely. "You should have called Ms Keaton to come and get the horse outta here or you should have called animal control". Friel was sentenced to 2 years probation, $340 fine (along with other smaller fines), and 20 days in an alternative work program.

The sentences for both Keaton and Friel may seem mild for the pain and suffering that Miss Hope endured for perhaps a year but this is the first animal cruelty case that Colusa County has recorded, charged the perpetrators and followed through to the sentencing period. It's a big wonderful step in the right direction. Colusa County citizens should be compelled to report any animal abuse whether suspect or actual, to the Animal Control Dept. 458 - 0229.

See Barney's StorY

2003-2004 Animal Bite Report

DUNNIGAN WOMEN CHARGED WITH ANIMAL CRUELTY

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