Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!
page5.html


THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA VS. FERGUSON AND CRAIG

DAILY NEWS - SAN GABRIEL VALLEY EDITION

July 2, 1999

PAIR SENTENCED FOR HORSE ABUSE

Mother, daughter guilty of neglect

City News Service

LOS ANGELES -- A Sun Valley stable owner was sentenced to six months in jail Thursday for neglecting horses donated by people who believed the animals would be used in a riding academy for needy children.

Renae Lyn Ferguson, 28, was previously found guilty of two counts of animal cruelty, six counts of failing to have a city horse license and one count of operating a horse market business without a city permit, said Mike Qualls, spokesperson for City Attorney Jim Hahn.

West Los Angeles Municipal Court Judge Keith Groneman sentenced her Thursday and ordered her to start serving her jail time immediately.

Groneman also placed Ferguson on three years' formal probation with condition that she not have contact with any animals, birds, reptiles or fish.

Ferguson also was ordered to pay an expected $10,485 in restitution to the California Equine Council, which has provided care for the horses since they were impounded from the stable on La Tuna Canyon Road.

Ferguson's mother, Darlene Craig, 49, was found guilty on the same charges. She was sentenced to two months in jail with the same conditions of probation as her daughter. She was held jointly responsible for the restitution.

The charges against the pair stemmed from an investigation triggered las year when a landlord renting property to Ferguson told regulators that horses were being kept there without food or water.

An animal regulation officer went to the stable on April 4, found seven horses without food and posted a "notice to comply" for abandonment, food and licensing.

The landlord called animal regulation again on May 13, to report that the horses were still without food or water, and that they were in poor physical condition.