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Prosecutors strike plea deal in case of abused horses
Prosecutors said Wednesday they have finalized a plea deal with the woman who kept dozens of malnourished horses on a farm in South Franklin Township.
Jean Watson pleaded guilty to eight counts of cruelty to animals after investigators from Washington Area Humane Society visited a farm on Bedillion Road in February and found 24 horses, including eight that eventually died.
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According to the agreement, Watson, of 271 Chestnut Ridge Road, Amwell Township, must pay a fine and will not be allowed to keep horses for an undisclosed period of time. When she is eventually allowed to care for horses again, it will be under the supervision of a veterinarian.
Fagella added that Watson also must pay medical and transportation costs for the horses found on the farm. Most of the horses on the farm have been placed in foster care.
Authorities initially charged Watson with 23 counts of animal cruelty, but reduced the charges as part of the plea.
Fagella said the humane society was involved in the plea arrangement and pushed for the veterinarian supervision once Watson is permitted to care for horses. Officials from Washington Area Humane Society did not return phone calls seeking comment on the agreement.
: 6/18/2009
Thank you Humane Society!
Horse - Jean Watson : 6/18/2009
I think it's a crying shame that she would ever be permitted to own any type of animal. She did nothing to check on those animals and she should also have to pay back the WAHS for what they spent to come to these poor animals aid.
Washington County justice : 6/18/2009
Stealing two exotic monkeys, then returning them to the owners gets a 19-year old a 2 to 5 year prison sentence. Keeping 24 malnourished horses, including 8 that died receives a fine and will not be allowed to keep horses for an undisclosed period of time. Only in Washington County judicial system returning two monkeys to their owners is more severe then eight dead horses. One-person is charged with eight counts of cruelty to animals and gets a plea deal that includes no jail time. Another persons does 8-1/2 months in the county jail, wants to make a plead deal that includes going to the military instead of prison. I don’t know if justice is blind, stupid or just corrupt in Washington County? I do know it’s not fair.
pleas : 6/18/2009
why are some cases not being sent up to the courthouse? i dont ever remember so mant being plead at the district justice,,,,and getting away with what they did,. also the police officers are working on a deal,,,,,the ones from burgettown
where's steve : 6/18/2009
Why didn't Toprani prosecute this one? Did the horses also live next door to his parents!?!
Pleas : 6/18/2009
This is absolutely mad! Charged with 8 counts? Why? Because she managed to kill only 8 horses? Why were there not 32 charges, one for each animal subjected to her abuse. And "abuse" is even to gentle a word. Why is she EVER to be allowed to have animals to mistreat again? Are we to believe that she is magically cured of whatever abberant behavior she has exhibited? NO THANK YOUs to the Humane Society for allowing this. Pity the poor animal she ever gets her hands on again.
value : 6/18/2009
I guess I ride the fence when it comes to these issues, yes animals are defenseless but they are just animals. When did we start treating an animal life with the same, or in some cases, more value than humans? I believe the punishment is just, if/when she decides to own horses again it will be under supervision. Also, she has to pay for the transportation and treatment of the sick horses. What do you people want, her case to tie up valuable time and resources at the courthouse and for her to be placed in jail? I feel that Toprani is dealing with real issues, you know like drugs and human on human violence. Just so it is clear, I currently own a dog and two cats and have never hit or abused them. I just find it amusing the attention that animals get in mainstream media. I mean look at the president and PETA with the fly. I just think there are more important things to worry about.
In response to value : 6/19/2009
No one who responded to the article compared animals to humans but life is life and should be respected regardless. Isn't that why we have laws? When people abuse animals, then they have no respect for life period, which also includes humans. It's all connected in the way an individual chooses to act in a civilized society that has laws to prevent these abuses from occurring. This is about justice and allowing someone to hurt another living thing and basically to get off on being charged appropriately because those we elect choose to look the other way for for some law breakers and severely penalize others.
