- Target:
- Humboldt County District Attorney's Office and Superior Courts of California
- Region:
- United States of America
- Website:
- www.facebook.com
Humboldt County Judge, John Feeney, is considering returning Jackpot (previously, "Mr. Nobody") back to his abuser after a mistrial and a bogus plea agreement! Charles Wesley Cole, will be sentenced at Humboldt County Superior Court on OCT 20, 2016. ***UPDATE: The plea deal was thrown out at the sentencing and both sides agreed to a retrial w/ a felony animal cruelty charge in addition to a misdemeanor assault charge in a different case (he is charges with throwing hot coffee on a person who confronted him about him beating his dog). The re-trial hearing is December 12th. Please keep signing and sharing this petition. Every signature helps. Thank you
THE HUMBOLDT RESCUE COMMUNITY NEEDS YOUR HELP!
BACKGROUND:
On January 14th, 2016, Charles Wesley Cole was arrested for PC 597(b), felony animal cruelty after video surveillance captured him dragging and repeatedly picking up and dropping his dog, "Mr. Nobody," that had collapsed onto the street while wearing a pack strapped to its back. Cole is well known by Arcata residents and business-owners who have witnessed him abusing this dog, as well as other dogs he has owned in the past, and he has a history with law enforcement as well.
On July 25th, the people tried Cole for felony animal cruelty in front of a jury. Witnesses called to the stand included the arresting Arcata Police Officer, the business owner who captured the video surveillance of the crime, and a representative from Sunny brae Animal Clinic where the dog was transported after the arrest was made. The video surveillance was shown at the trial. On July 29th, the trial was declared a mistrial due to a hung jury; 7 guilty and 5 non-guilty. The re-trial was set for September 12th.
Meanwhile, Mr. Nobody was being cared for in a foster/adoptive placement through an out-of-area labrador rescue, where he has been re-named "Jackpot." He has been rehabilitated and learned to trust, after a traumatic early life with his abuser. He had several behavioral issue that needed to be addressed immediately after he was transported out of Humboldt and the lab rescue invested thousands of dollars into his boarding and training. And now has a family that loves him wants to permanently adopt him. We have been privy to pictures and videos of him absolutely enjoying himself, tail wagging and all. To send Jackpot back to his ABUSER Cole, is OUTRAGEOUS!
The day his re-trial was set, it was announced that a PLEA DEAL was struck; Cole pled guilty to one count of misdemeanor animal cruelty. Cole's probation terms as we understand them are:
1. RELEASE THE DOG BACK TO COLE if he signs up for a 6 week Dog Obedience Course through HumDog and anger management classes
2. Cole can only use a cage muzzle on his dog (Cole previously used a cloth muzzle which he kept very tight on this dog and previous dogs, causing them to have difficulty breathing)
3. Cole can only have his dog carrying a pack of 4 lbs or less (the pack Jackpot/Mr.Nobody was wearing when he collapsed weighed over 8 lbs)
4. Pay animal control fees for costs of boarding his dog from January 14th to June 10th. (this is estimated to be $2,400)
5. Cole will remain under a “search and seizure” clause so he can be stopped at any time and be arrested if he is violating any of the conditions of his parole
This is not the sentencing the community wants for this case of a long-time public animal abuser. To go from pursuing a felony to a misdemeanor with almost no real punishment is unacceptable. We do not want to see this dog leave the family that adores him and end up back in the hands of the man who abused him for the past two years of his life. We want justice to be served and an example to be set in our county.
PLEASE LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW ABOUT THE INJUSTICE WHICH MAY OCCUR! Sign this petition to the District Attorney's office and let them know how you feel about the injustice that is currently being served upon this poor dog and the many of us "victims" who have had to be witness to his abuse over the past decade. Tell your elected officials that you do not support this! Spread the word out to your connections in local media and in letters to editors. Please be a voice for the voiceless in our community. We can make a difference, if we stay strong and pursue justice. Please share this petition with your animal-loving friends and family! THANK YOU!
We, the undersigned, call on the Humboldt County District Attorney's Office and the Superior Courts of California to refrain from allowing the accused and admittedly guilty, Charles Wesley Cole, retain the possession and ownership of the dog in which he has very publicly abused and in which he was rightfully arrested and accused of, on January 14, 2016.
We request that his dog remain in the loving care of his foster parents who are very eager to adopt him and provide him the care and attention that he so requires and deserves. We ask the courts to consider a temporary injunction on Cole owning any animal while he undergoes counseling and anger management classes and possibly mental health treatment.
We also are requesting that Cole be held to pay his the full amount of his fees to the animal shelter in which his dog remained, beginning January 14th and ending on June 10th, in addition to the fees associated with the boarding and training facility the out-of-area rescue incurred for his behavioral issues. If there are any veterinarian fees for the assessment and treatment of any injuries this dog incurred while under the possession of Cole before his arrest, these fees shall be added to the final cost.
The Keep Jackpot the dog out of the hands of his abusive owner! petition to Humboldt County District Attorney's Office and Superior Courts of California was written by Shannon Townsend and is in the category Animal Welfare at GoPetition.