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Animal cruelty trial delayed
A Caroline man was supposed to be tried today on four counts of animal cruelty following accusations that he abused his horses.
Date published: 8/27/2008 BY ELLEN BILTZ Michael Wilkerson was supposed to be tried today in Caroline County Circuit Court on four counts of animal cruelty following accusations that he abused his horses. Instead, he was charged with four more counts of cruelty and his trial was delayed until Jan. 21. Caroline Commonwealth’s Attorney Tony Spencer said new evidence came to light since the trial date was set that showed there were four more horses belonging to Wilkerson that he hadn’t cared for properly. Today’s trial was set as an appeal by Wilkerson after he was found guilty on the four initial counts earlier this year in General District Court. Defense attorney Eugene Frost joined Spencer in asking for the delay so all eight counts could be tried together. When animal control officers began investigating Wilkerson’s farm in January, they told him he needed to do a better job of caring for the horses or he would be charged, according to evidence in the case. When the officers came back one week later, Wilkerson told them he had given four of the horses to an equestrian adoption agency, Spencer said. But the new counts allege that Wilkerson gave the horses to a friend instead, and the care did not improve. Frost said in court today that he plans to call close to 10 witnesses on Wilkerson’s behalf. At his previous trial in General District Court, Wilkerson argued that he did care for his horses and multiple witnesses supported his claim. Ellen Biltz: 540/374-5424 ebiltz@freelancestar.com
Read more stories about Caroline Date published: 8/27/2008
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