Posted on 10/06/2008 8:41:42 AM PDT by george76
A software CEO from Texas accused of allowing the killing of his neighbor's bison in South Park last winter is due in court.
Forty-four-year-old Jeffrey Scott Hawn of Austin has been charged with 32 counts of animal cruelty, one count of theft of more than $20,000 and a one count of criminal mischief. Prosecutors allege that he "tortured, needlessly mutilated or needlessly killed" the bison, who belonged to another rancher.
(Excerpt) Read more at myfoxaustin.com ...
In an arrest warrant, investigators say the bulk of the bison — 14 of them — were killed on land owned by Catherine Pimm.
Eight were killed on Bureau of Land Management property,
four on U.S. Forest Service property,
three on property of Robert Lemm
three on Hawn’s ranch.
From what I’ve read, it’s an open range issue. Ranchers have been allowed to graze over large areas for generations. Outsiders with sizable resources are buying up the land and don’t want the creatures on their land. One more sign the world is getting smaller and more private.
When we heard about this here in Colorado, the first thing I said was “There’s some land issues here. Someone’s cattle was roaming on someone else’s property”
That’s pretty much what it turned out to be according to the local authorities awhile back. Can’t cite a link at the moment but it turned out that the guy who “authorized the shootings” simply gave a verbal go-ahead to some other folks.
Those folks doing the shooting “didn’t know any better”.
/sigh
I’m waiting to find out what comes out in court now to see how accurate all that was.
(btw we’re getting a quarter of a buffalo at the end of the month is a LEGAL shoot! lol)
In a Feb. 25 letter addressed to Antonino Salcedo, Hawn gave permission to Salcedo and his “Atzlan Native Community” colleagues, based in Gardner, Colo., to “remove the buffalo from my ranch.”
Colorado is a Fence Out State. Most Western states are. If you don’t want livestock on your property, it is legally your responsibility to build an adequate fence to keep them out. Right or wrong that is the way it is.
ht Concho
It will be interesting wo see what happens!
One more sign of outsiders intruding into once peaceful situations. Just because they have sizable resources doesnt give them the right to disturb the culture of generations.
Hawn’s day of reckoning is approaching fast, looking forward to seeing the outcome.
Thanks for the ping.
Regardless of the trial outcome
Jeff Hawn needs to pack up his
Carpetbags and go back to Texas
Another example of a rich outsider trying to make his own laws. Since he thinks his money makes him above the law, I hope this costs him dearly.
32 bison? That’s at least 100K. That’s gonna leave a mark.
Seems the lust for Western land has driven the prices high and put a lot of pressure on the old timers. I was told by a rancher in Colorado that taxes are going up and the old-timers are being driven out. Can anyone confirm that?
Ever hear of Aspen?
Yes, it looks like this will cost him dearly. The interesting thing is if he’ll get any jail time, community service or probation, I’d bet on the last two.
Happening all over Colorado.
These liberal city snobs move in with their big money and no common sense...
Then they get zoning rules changed so that historical farmers and ranchers can not survive.
Pitkin County is not ranch land as is Park County (South Park).
Plus his battery of high-powered big city lawyers will cost him plenty. He won’t do any time, but he’ll write some big checks.
Liberals get hunting seasons closed, stop historical hunting practices, then get wolves and other large predators introduced, then deny ranchers from defending their livestock...
What about Ted Turner, Tom Brokaw, and the other millionaires buying “ranches”? That’s happening all over the country. One local cashes in on the sucker, but his neighbors are left with higher taxes and boorish, absentee neighbors.
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