LIHU‘E — The Hawai‘i Attorney General is re-prosecuting a case that charges 16 counts of animal cruelty involving horses. Special Deputy Attorney General Sheri Lawson was in 5th Circuit Court Tuesday to re-indict 16 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty against
LIHU‘E — The Hawai‘i Attorney General is re-prosecuting a case that charges 16 counts of animal cruelty involving horses.
Special Deputy Attorney General Sheri Lawson was in 5th Circuit Court Tuesday to re-indict 16 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty against Lara Butler-Brady, who operated the 165-acre Keapana Horsemanship riding stable in Hanama‘ulu.
Several horses were declared emaciated following a Kaua‘i Humane Society investigation. It led to an indictment on July 13, 2010.
Chief Judge Randal Valenciano presided over the hearing. The same judge granted Butler-Brady’s motion to dismiss the case on May 15, after it failed to come to trial within six months.
Butler-Brady appeared with her defense counsel, Craig De Costa, who entered a not guilty plea and a trial date was scheduled for Oct. 15.
The original case went through nearly two years of litigation. The same charges apply to the new case and was remanded from a district court hearing on July 25, after Butler-Brady was served with the new complaint in June.
De Costa argued for a dismissal that would not allow the state to bring a new case. He said the county prosecutor’s lack of transparency led to its recusal from the case on March 8.
The recusal brought in Lawson as special prosecutor for the attorney general. She is a deputy prosecuting attorney for the County of Hawai‘i.
Valenciano stood by during the without prejudice ruling and said the state would need to file new misdemeanor charges in district court, where the case originated before Butler-Brady opted for a jury trial.
If found guilty Butler-Brady faces a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
The horses remain in protective custody at the KHS Puhi shelter and on privately owned land.
