An update at an animal cruelty case plus our Legislature’s triumph, after the jump:
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Just over six months ago, I wrote about two cases of animal cruelty here in New Hampshire — one of which (in the north-central part of the state) was resolved. The other (in my region) was yet to go to trial, yet had already caused a stir.
A nearby resident had kept fifty-two Yellow Labs in squalor (along with Smittens the Cat, who was kept as a seemingly normal house pet) was due to go on trial, with all of the animals being kept at the local Humane Society at a considerable cost, as Emily Kerylow (the shelter operations manager, below) testified at trial.
Being sworn-in at the trial(Full disclosure: I had a temp job at that Society four years ago).
Eventually, they were able to foster-out as many of the dogs as possible, yet families taking them in would have to await the outcome of the trial, as an acquittal would most likely result in the defendant getting his dogs back.
You can read that original essay at this link.
Now …... an update.
After a trial delay, dog hoarder John Riggieri was convicted in District Court this past February on two major counts (and acquitted on three minor counts) of animal cruelty in a bench trial. In April, the judge imposed a sentence as follows:
1) Restitution of $78k (as the Humane Society has spent more than that on care).
2) Undergoing a psychological examination
3) Undergo two years of probation
4) Two 90-day sentences — to be suspended as long as Riggieri meets standards
5) And he is limited to owning one dog for the next ten years
The defendant, John RiggieriRiggieri’s attorney filed an appeal, which will be heard in Superior Court this October. In addition to pleading poverty (as far as restitution goes) it appears that this fellow wants his dogs back, more than anything. So the animals fostered-out will remain as fosters, pending the resolution of this case. To be continued.
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On a happier note: an addendum on today’s historic tally in the New Hampshire state Senate — voting 16-8 (66.67%) to join our lower house (by a 247-123 vote, or 66.76%) in overriding GOP governor Chris Sununu’s veto of abolishing the state’s death penalty. Though there have been no executions here since 1939 (and only one person on Death Row) this still represents a day we have waited for for a long time, with two override votes that just barely met the 2/3 margin needed.
I was sweating-out the arm-twisting on this … the House really dropped-off from the original vote (223-116). But unlike a budget vote, or infrastructure, et al, a conscience vote is more difficult to browbeat. In the Senate, the original 17-6 vote just barely held on, too.
Now I can finally let our Sen. Jeanne Shaheen off-the-hook. Years earlier (when she was governor in 2000) both houses abolished it, but she vetoed it. And then Kelly Ayotte rose-to-power from the AG’s office in obtaining that death penalty conviction (i.e., not allowing a guilty plea) to serve a term in the US Senate.
Years later in 2014, when our Sen. Maggie Hassan was then-governor, a repeal bill was on its way to her desk — and she said she would sign it— but the Senate vote was deadlocked 12-12, and so it did not pass.
Let’s close with a salute to those who strove for this result … this title says-it-all.
x xYouTube VideoNow, on to Top Comments:
From Mike the Liberal:
In the diary by FlannelGuy about the Minnesota woman who found her abortion records were posted online— this comment from Sue the Cat is terrifying as to what some people feel they have the right to know and should scare everyone. Sorry to be a downer for TC, but this needs attention, as does the main diary.And from Ed Tracey, your faithful correspondent this evening ........
In the front-page story about the USS John McCain fiasco— where quite possibly aides to the Trumpster kept its name out of sight, lest he get worked up into-a-lather …. libera nos first mentions the name of Thomas à Becket, which generated a rather lively thread: yet it was triplepoint who updated the famous (possibly apocryphal) remark made by King Henry II… to you-know-who.
In the diary by Walter Einenkel about the Fresno minor league baseball team showing a doctored YouTube Enemy of Freedom video (which included Rep. AOC) shown on Memorial Day — of which there are more normal versions available, and may have been unintentional — both David Jarman and knitwithpurpose provide pertinent geographical info for the story.
And in the front-page story about the Trumpster using the word filthy to discuss the “i” word …. RavRose reminds us that there will be some court filings/appearances tomorrow that (perhaps) may be driving these outbursts.
And lastly: yesterday's Top Mojo - mega-mojo to the intrepid mik ...... who rescued this feature from oblivion:
1) Firing isn't enough — that’s brandishing a firea … by The Katwoman +226 2) Yeah. I think this was actually better than gett … by derleider +172 3) Thank you by CwV +162 4) Fuck ‘em. So tired of their propagandizing of th … by BeadLady +155 5) Two almost 80-year-old white men? Can’t think of … by Tamar +152 6) And yet Meghan still stands for the party that h … by iraqnam +128 7) One thing I notice about Elizabeth Warren, is sh … by Ooooh +107 7) You should see the bot spam on the news site fee … by mattakar +107 9) *If we assume he won’t. … by Renee M +103 10) I also believe him when he says he didn’t seek p … by nailbender +101 11) Well, for one… Biden/Sanders would be a nightmar … by Remembering Jello +100 12) I can only speak for myself. … by Rubens +99 13) Wow! I am no fan of McCain nor am I of the gross … by neuroguy +98 14) [embed] by DRo +94 15) Thus far, I think Warren has clearly shown the b … by CygnusX1 +93 16) Wall Street Urinal, no less. … by Dr A W Niloc +91 17) “Momentarily flummoxed” — really? You must have … by Denise Oliver Velez +89 17) He said what I thought he would. Mr. Mueller man … by Cmae +89 19) Clearly Steve was never a Trump fan, Trump was j … by Catte Nappe +88 20) 12 years left by annieli +87 21) So — this isn’t from the Onion. Right? by northcountry21st +84 22) If Trump loses FOX News, his days are numbered. … by News Corpse +83 22) [embed] by DRo +83 24) I agree. At a minimum the cops should investigat … by Lost and Found +81 24) Warren gets it. I read her book, and I have list … by rssrai +81 26) [embed] … by durrati +80 27) Maybe we are seeing these effects on the DK poll … by Crabby Patty +78 28) Why not? He’s definitely not going to win if ass … by Renee M +77 28) Thanks Greg – good morning … by Denise Oliver Velez +77 30) Meghan McCain’s response by MTmofo +76