Well I'm back and my heart rate is returning to normal.
I got to the Justice center way to early. I then ran into my neighbor's wife, his 2 daughters and a son-in-law. I was waiting for the Asst DA who I never saw before but hey he would be wearing a suit!!
Then I encounter my neighbor and is attorney.
Anyhow I did meet up with the DA and we proceed to courtroom where I wait in silence for the judge.
The reads the case and talks about the defendent waiving his rights to a jury trial etc.............
He pleaded guilty to the amended claim for mistreatment of animal, Was fined a whopping $250 plus court costs, 10 hrs community service and parital restitution to me.
I then stood up and read my statement. I tell you the 1st couple of paragrahs came out pretty shaky and then we I spoke briefly about Sheba's life it got shakey again.
The DA did point out a couple parts of my statement. Basically that neighbors should talk to one another. His attorney who I thought could not put two sentences together babbled on about the state of his clients physical health and the fear of being bitten by a stray cat. He bought up a couple of WI cases in the past yr. Plus how they owned cats when the kids were growing up-which was news to me as they had dogs. And that he would never shoot a pet-he had never seen her before August OMG she was 9 yrs old!! Lots of other BS too like there are lots of feral cats around people are always dropping them off-I just wanted to stand up can call him a big fat liar
But the judge said that this was probably a learning experience for him and that he would probably never do this again. I'll be watching him and I mentioned this statement in my statement.
A spoke with a local reporter after this. He asked if I thought the verdict was fair. I mentioned the feral cat statement and that I thought some of the statements that his attoney said were false. I also told the reporter that I would be donating the restitution to local animal shelters.
So am I happy with the outcome. I think he learned his lesson but there was some fabrication on his part which really made me mad. I haven't heard any gunshots from his property since last fall. I'm glad I went through this whole process but the only downside it that it takes so long.
I asked for an apology before the court which he did but he did not look at me. The judge made some comments also which he basically told him not to do this again. I hope he doesn't.
I got to the Justice center way to early. I then ran into my neighbor's wife, his 2 daughters and a son-in-law. I was waiting for the Asst DA who I never saw before but hey he would be wearing a suit!!
Then I encounter my neighbor and is attorney.
Anyhow I did meet up with the DA and we proceed to courtroom where I wait in silence for the judge.
The reads the case and talks about the defendent waiving his rights to a jury trial etc.............
He pleaded guilty to the amended claim for mistreatment of animal, Was fined a whopping $250 plus court costs, 10 hrs community service and parital restitution to me.
I then stood up and read my statement. I tell you the 1st couple of paragrahs came out pretty shaky and then we I spoke briefly about Sheba's life it got shakey again.
The DA did point out a couple parts of my statement. Basically that neighbors should talk to one another. His attorney who I thought could not put two sentences together babbled on about the state of his clients physical health and the fear of being bitten by a stray cat. He bought up a couple of WI cases in the past yr. Plus how they owned cats when the kids were growing up-which was news to me as they had dogs. And that he would never shoot a pet-he had never seen her before August OMG she was 9 yrs old!! Lots of other BS too like there are lots of feral cats around people are always dropping them off-I just wanted to stand up can call him a big fat liar
But the judge said that this was probably a learning experience for him and that he would probably never do this again. I'll be watching him and I mentioned this statement in my statement.
A spoke with a local reporter after this. He asked if I thought the verdict was fair. I mentioned the feral cat statement and that I thought some of the statements that his attoney said were false. I also told the reporter that I would be donating the restitution to local animal shelters.
So am I happy with the outcome. I think he learned his lesson but there was some fabrication on his part which really made me mad. I haven't heard any gunshots from his property since last fall. I'm glad I went through this whole process but the only downside it that it takes so long.
I asked for an apology before the court which he did but he did not look at me. The judge made some comments also which he basically told him not to do this again. I hope he doesn't.