| Michael Allen Tabor |
Torturing
a colt -loses appeal
for dragging colt |
Branson, MO |
February
28, 2004 |
Michael Allen Tabor, who is currently serving seven years in
prison for torturing a colt, has lost an appeal. Tabor dragged a 9-month
old colt behind his van in Laclede
County
at speeds up to 30 mph in February of 2004. The colt had to be euthanized
after its hooves were torn to the bone.
Tabor was convicted by Pulaski
County
jurors of felony animal abuse last year. He also received a consecutive seven-year
term for unlawful use of a weapon.
Tabor’s Public Defender, Irene
Karns, argued on appeal that an instruction given
before deliberation had misled the jury. Karns
contended that the jury should have considered whether Tabor ‘consciously’
inflicted suffering. The word ‘consciously’ was left out of the instruction
Karns argued. Appellate Judges John Parrish, Nancy
Rahmeyer and Kenneth Shrum disagreed in an opinion released last week
(July 31st). Judge Rahmeyer wrote in the opinion that ‘as written, the
instruction did not lessen the burden of proof. The trial court did not err
in refusing the addition of ‘consciously’ in the third paragraph of the verdict
director…’.
A second injured horse found on Tabor’s Laclede
County
property recovered on a Missouri Humane Society ranch. There was no indication
that the horse was dragged. Officials stated that they suspected Tabor had
a third horse, but no others were taken. The 2nd horse as found
to be thin, bruised and “loaded with parasites”. The 2nd
horse has been dubbed Algernon. The HS believes he will need a few more months
of rehabilitation.
The Humane Society believes there may be as many as 14 other horses owned by
Tabor. Tabor is believed to have had residences in both Branson and Laclede
County.
Tabor has outstanding warrants in Springfield,
Wright, Christian
and Taney.
Humane Society Director of Rescue
and Investigation, Debbie Hill, stated that the Humane Society receives calls daily regarding
animal abuse, but few result in felonies. Someone must have a previous conviction
or use torture or mutilation to get a felony animal abuse conviction.
If anyone has any information regarding
other animals owned by Tabor to contact local law enforcement officials of
the Humane Society at 314-951-1514
Reference:
Springfield News Leader