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Woman facing charges in animal cruelty case dies

Orange woman charged with cruelty to polo ponies dies after an illness

Date published: 11/11/2009

BY ROBIN KNEPPER

The woman charged with multiple counts of cruelty to retired polo ponies on her Orange County farm has died.

Nancy Sorrell Mackall died Nov. 3 at Capital Hospice in Arlington. She was buried Nov. 7 in McLean.

Mackall, 55, had been charged with 10 criminal misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and 20 counts of failure to bury or cremate dead animals. Ten emaciated horses and three dogs were removed from Mackall's Langley Farm in Mine Run on Aug. 6. They were treated and placed in foster care.

She transferred the ownership of 10 other horses to a Culpeper County farm owner.

Mackall had established the Polo Pony Retirement Foundation at one time and had taken in donated horses. According to acquaintances, she concurrently ran a breeding operation but stopped all operations a few years ago.

Her trial was scheduled for Nov. 20 in Orange County General District Court.

Diana Wheeler, the county's commonwealth's attorney, said that the charges against Mackall will be dismissed.

"There's nothing criminally left to do," she said. "Ms. Mackall transferred ownership of 10 of the horses and made restitution to the county for veterinary care for the horses that were seized."

Robin Knepper: 540/972-5701
Email: rknepper@earthlink.net



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Date published: 11/11/2009


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Having grown up with her (posted by wideopenspace , Nov. 11, 2009 6:39 pm)   
daughter, I know a little about the OC DA and she is pretty daggone wise. To insinuate that she is dumb shows ignorance on your part.

Why do you have to call anyone stupid? (posted by spooncroon , Nov. 11, 2009 11:06 am)   
Does someone always have to be the butt of the joke? It's a reasonable question to ask of the commonwea'th's attorney how the legal issue will be resolved. The answer also was reasonable. The reporter isn't a "half-wit" for asking, and the attorney not "Ms. Common Sense 2009" for answering. Gee whiz.

Why the literal reading of every article? (posted by 2LongInStafford , Nov. 11, 2009 9:01 am)   
Here is what more likely happened: Half-wit Reporter to the county's commonwealth's attorney: "What happens now?" Response from Commonwealth's attorney: "Well obviously the charges will be dismissed". However, if restitution had not been made prior to her passing, her estate would likely have had to pay the county, and this would have been part of the proceedings.

Ya think? (posted by wildbill56 , Nov. 11, 2009 8:02 am)   
"Diana Wheeler, the county's commonwealth's attorney, said that the charges against Mackall will be dismissed." I would to introduce to you, Diana Wheeler, Ms Common Sense 2009...

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