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February 5, 1999 Equine Placement Network, Inc. equineprotectionnetwork.com |
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Kirkwood, NY - Carlton H. Simmons, Gouverneur, NY, a driver for Arlow Kiehl, Watertown, NY, was found guilty after trial on February 3, 1999 in Kirkwood Town Court on 8 counts of transporting horses in violation of New York State Agriculture and Markets Law, Section 359-a 2. Judge Benjamin Weingartner fined Mr Simmons $800, $100 for each horse transported illegally. Mr Simmons was prosecuted by Broome County New York Senior Assistant District Attorney Marcy Cox.
New York State Trooper Michael J. Connelly arrested Mr Simmons on I-81 in Kirkwood, NY on Monday, December 7, 1998. Mr Simmons had 17 horses and an unknown number of hogs on the double deck trailer. The hogs were being transported on the top tier of the double deck trailer, with 8 of the 17 horses on the trailer in the compartment underneath the hogs. Mr Simmons was charged with 8 counts of transporting horses in a double deck trailer, and 17 counts of lacking the required abrasive material so as to prevent horses from skidding or sliding. The horses were being shipped from a New Holland, PA auction barn to a Canadian slaughterhouse for human consumption overseas.
According to a news story published June 25, 1998 by the Williamsport Sun Gazette,
" Kiehl uses a double deck trailer and said he will continue to do so, despite the fact that he has been arrested several times recently in New York State, hauling horses from the New Holland (PA) and Middleburg (PA) auctions."
In 1998 in 5 separate incidents Mr Kiehl or his drivers were charged with close to 100 counts of transporting horses illegally in New York State and fined $3300.00. Another repeat offender, Nickerson Livestock paid fines totalling $4400.00 in 1998 for the illegal transport of horses, $3000.00 of which was levied by Kirkwood Town Court Justice Weingartner. The next time either one of these shippers is arrested the charges will be misdemeanors and the fines can range to $1000.00 per horse, per violation.
New York State continues to use its law to crack down on the cruel and inhumane transport of slaughterbound horses from Pennsylvania auctions through New York to Canadian slaughterhouses for human consumption overseas. The simplicity of New York State's law facilitates the prosecution and conviction for illegal shipment of horses, and New York State counties have seen revenue of $7700 in a 12 month period, with over $11,000 in unpaid fines on the books
Description of Accepted Equine Industry Practices For Transport Verses Slaughter Transport |
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Paper Horse Incident Involving Same NY Shipper |
NY York Daily News |
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Williamsport Sun Gazette |