James Denoyer

Neglect of horses – 20 seized

Westport, CA

Dec. 27, 2005

(photo courtesy of Redwings Horse Sanctuary)

The trial of James Denoyer for 36 counts of alleged felony abuse to horses was put off until October 10, 2006 due to attorney scheduling difficulties. He was to have gone on trial in Ukiah on July 10th.

(photo courtesy of Redwings Horse Sanctuary) Following a raid of his ranch near Westport and another ranch located off Branscomb Road, Denoyer, from Westport, was arrested in late December 2005. 36 horses allegedly malnourished, weather-worn and unsheltered were discovered by Deputies from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office and representatives from the Mendocino County Public Health Department-Animal Care and Control Program.  One horse was found dead in mud.

(photo courtesy of Redwings Horse Sanctuary, this horse is one of the many cases of rain rot) On Feb. 28 th, Judge Jonathan Lehan of Ten Mile Court in Fort Bragg imposed a "gag" order on the press, denying, among other specifics, the right to publish photos of the horses, in an attempt to fashion a ruling that would allow all sides in the matter to have a fair and impartial hearing.  The Fort Bragg-Advocate News, The Mendocino Beacon, and several sister newspapers sought to have Lehan's ruling overturned. The Court of Appeal in San Francisco granted the newspapers' request, stating that Lehan's order placed a prior restraint on the press in violation of its basic first-amendment rights.

In April, 29 of the horses were sold at public auction, 3 were returned to their rightful owner in Missouri, and 4 were promised to Denoyer should he be found not guilty of the charges in the felony cruelty to animals' trial.

It was learned that Denoyer's brother-in-law from Ventura, Mark Scripter, had purchased several of the horses. The Mendocino County District Attorney's Office brought a motion in Ten Mile Court accusing Denoyer of violating the terms of his ‘own recognizance’ by circumventing an order not to have any contact with the horses.  The District Attorney later withdrew that motion and a trial was set for July 10 th.

Denoyer then dismissed his original attorney, Don Lipmanson of Ukiah, just prior to a bail hearing on May 2nd.  Nathan Raff from the law firm of L. Steven Turer in Santa Rosa has replaced Lipmanson.

Deputy District Attorney Kathryn Houston has replaced the initial prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Emily Brinkman from the Coastal Justice Center in Fort Bragg when Brinkman left the coastal office for a similar position in San Mateo.

(photo courtesy of Redwings Horse Sanctuary)

Reference:

Fort Bragg Advocate-News

Santa Rosa Press Democrat

Redwings Horse Sanctuary

Rainbow Agricultural Services