TulsaPets Magazine received a copy of the following email as an update to the criminal felony trial of David Wayne Collier, accused of abuse/neglect of the Boxer pup Summer.
Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2010 11:11 AM
Subject: Update on cruelty to animals case against David Collier, CF-2010-89
Each of you have helped our office with this case. This email is to provide you with an update about the disposition of the case.
The defendant entered a plea yesterday. As part of our plea agreement, the defendant pled no contest to the misdemeanor offense of outraging public decency. He will be on deferred probation for 3 years. He must pay a fine of $500 and court costs and must report to the DA’s office in person each month for the first year of his probation. In addition to the regular conditions of probation, the defendant is not permitted to own, keep or possess any dog during the term of his probation. He must also perform 240 hours of community service at a rate of 20 hours per month. He also has to pay restitution in the amount of $814.00 to Tulsa Boxer Rescue for the vet bills and expenses associated with the rescue of Summer. As I was typing this email, our Restitution Coordinator has called to let me know that the defendant today paid the restitution in full.
The other Boxer that was turned in to WAGS while this case was pending concerned everyone. We originally thought that it came from the defendant. However, the lady who turned it in to WAGS was not the wife of the defendant. She is his ex-wife. They were divorced in April of 2009.
On behalf of my boss Jerry Moore, please accept our thanks for the diligent investigation and hard work done to prepare this case for prosecution. The support of WAGS, Tulsa Boxer Rescue, and all the concerned volunteers was invaluable. I believe I told Ms. Wood once that I often wish that the community would support our child and sex abuse cases with similar efforts.
Finally, Ms. Wood asked me if I could try to find out Summer’s real name from the defendant. I did so yesterday. Her name was Zoe.
Kind regards,
Chip Garrett
Assistant District Attorney
Wagoner County, OK
ADA Chip Garrett said “I believe I told Ms. Wood once that I often wish that the community would support our child and sex abuse cases with similar efforts.
I think I can asssure Mr. Garrett that when it becomes almost impossible to get meaningful prosecution of child and sex abuse cases, as is often the case when animal cruelty is involved, a concerned public will indeed rally for stronger prosecution, provided of course, that the cases are publicized.
The public is barred from hearing court cases involving juvenile victims, to respect the privacy of those directly affected and their families. Thus many, who would be outraged if the facts in such cases were made known to them, are silent, not because they don’t care, but because they don’t know. And if we knew, there still remains the issue of respecting the privacy of the victims. It is a complicated issue.
Clova, you are absoltuely correct.
Clova,
Very well said. Thank you!!!!
Sherrill
Just a slap on the wrist if you ask me. This dog’s life of abuse was paid for in full for a mere $814.00 and a little bit of community service. PITIFUL!!
It’s horrible to know that there are such disgusting, despicable, abusive, and heartless people out there that can smugly sit in their living rooms watching TV in the warmth of their homes all the while KNOWING that there is a helpless, unfed, unwatered, and unsheltered animal outside slowing dying from starvation, dehydration, and extreme weather! This case with Summer has hurt my heart so much! I so wish she could have lived and known what it was like to be truly loved. I would have loved to have given her that chance in my own home. I’m truly heartbroken for this animal but at the same time enraged with the pitiful “slap on the wrist” that Summer’s owner got. He should have been hung in public by his private parts in freezing weather for weeks! He’s a beast!