Posted on 05/15/2008 8:47:48 AM PDT by george76
The man accused in the deaths of 32 bison who strayed off his Park County neighbor's property has hired a prominent Denver defense attorney.
Pamela Mackey is representing Jeffery Scott Hawn, of Austin, Texas, who was charged last week with theft, criminal mischief and cruelty to animals.
Mackey previously represented ... Kobe Bryant...
(Excerpt) Read more at rockymountainnews.com ...
ht comments
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We had bison burgers on the grill last weekend...man were they good.
She’s going to use the same defense that she used in Kobe’s case: the bison asked for it.
Additionally, they were dressed provocatively ...
ht comments
Hopefully, the ba$tard will get some heavy fines and imprisonment.
I am interested in his connection to the reconquista group members that he hired to help do the killing. Any word on this?
I suppose he thinks he can buffalo a jury...
Not knowing much about the case, it may not be the first time this “neighbor’s” herd were running free on this dude’s ranch plus bison can be pretty mean to other livestock and people.
My second question, is Hanoi Jane’s EX the “neighbor”?
Even if they were someone else's, as long as they didn't block my car. I wouldn't even mind Bison flop.
Authorities charged Thursday that an Austin, Texas, businessman, frustrated because a neighbor's bison were wandering onto his land near Hartsel, first threatened and then organized a hunt that led to 32 bison deaths.
According to an arrest warrant, Jeffrey Scott Hawn wrote a letter to the hunters — members of the Aztlan Native Community of Gardner — on Feb. 25 telling them that he wanted them to "get started as quickly as possible."
"You may hunt or remove them or you may remove them live and take them to the location of your choice," Hawn wrote.
The 32 bison found dead in March belonged to longtime South Park rancher Monte Downare. Hawn owns a ranch near, but not adjacent to, the Downare ranch, according to officials.
The warrant said Hawn is wanted on one count of felony theft, one count of felony criminal mischief and 32 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, a Class 6 felony.
Monte Gore, undersheriff for Park County, said charges might be filed against other individuals.
"We are leaving those options open," he said.
Gore said arrangements are being made for Hawn to turn himself in.
According to the warrant affidavit, three bison were killed on Hawn's ranch; eight on Bureau of Land Management property; four on U.S. Forest Service property; 14 on the property belonging to Catherine L. Primm; and three on the property of Robert Lemm.
Officials claim that Hawn himself was involved in killing some of the animals.
Antonino Salcedo of the Aztlan Native Community, who received the Feb. 25 letter, said that Hawn told him that he had killed two bison prior to Salcedo's arrival at the property.
Salcedo said that when he and his group arrived, they saw nine "wasted carcasses," which no one took responsibility for shooting.
Several witnesses said they saw Hawn on his property with a 30.06 rifle during the last week of February and first week of March.
Officers said that during a search of Hawn's house in South Park, they recovered a 30.06 rifle, seized empty 30.06 ammunition boxes, full boxes of 30.06 ammunition and a box with four cartridges missing.
The bison were shot after Hawn and his Denver attorney, Stephen E. Csajaghy, complained about Downare's bison damaging Hawn's property.
In a letter dated Jan. 28, Csajaghy told Downare that over the previous six weeks, there had been more than 1,000 head of Downare's bison on Hawn's property. Csajaghy said he had photographic proof that "your buffalo" had broken through gates and trespassed on more than 20 occasions over the previous two months.
And in the letter, Csajaghy threatened to kill the bison.
". . . We are considering alternate remedies, such as allowing a hunt of any buffalo that come onto Mr. Hawn's property," Csajaghy wrote. "However, we would certainly prefer to resolve this problem amicably without having to resort to such action."
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
:’)
This turkey needs to be slapped down hard for this. With Pamela Mackey representing him he might get off but then maybe not too.
If he does walk it will have still cost him a bundle, Pam doesn’t work cheap.
1. The defendant finds that his neighbor's bison are breaking down a gate/fence and entering his property - repeatedly (20 times?).
2. The neighbor doesn't ensure his bison do not continue to destroy/invade the defendant's property even after being warned ("considering alternate remedies, such as allowing a hunt of any buffalo that come onto Mr. Hawn's property").
3. The defendant organizes a hunt of the invading buffalo. Some are killed, some are taken.
4. Now the defendant is being prosecuted for multiple felonies.
Maybe I'm missing something huge here but . . .what exactly is illegal about shooting bison and taking that which is repeatedly deposited on your property (like a gift)?
I know that most states require owners of livestock to control them at all times. I personally knew a man in Arkansas who hit a horse with his car (on a farm road) and the horse owner was responsible for all damages. Though the horse died, the driver wasn't at fault for killing the horse. Is that so different than this case?
Where is the outrage toward the owner of the bison that didn’t take any measures to keep the bison confined and away from danger? What about the rights of the property owner to protect his property from idiots that don’t take care of their animals? If 32 of my animals were out I would surely know it and be doing something about it to fix the problem immediately. Why didn’t the local authorities look after the rights of the land owner being violated by the animal owner that was too irresponsible to keep his animals confined to his property?
“Home, home on the range, where the deer and the b......d,,d.,m,./.————————————
Colorado law is open range.This means if you don't want livestock on your land, you must build fences to keep the out.
I'm not a lawyer but it is probably in there somewhere in the section that makes it illegal for me to shoot your dog if he takes a dump on my property.
The proper way to handle it is to call authorities to deal with the animals and the owner and have your recourse through the legal system for the damages your property suffered.
carolyn
Read this Open Range & Fencing in Colorado.
Nothing lately.
I will search some more. Please let me know if you find anything.
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