One year and six days after horses and other animals were seized from their farm, Brett and Alexis Ingraham were found guilty of criminal animal cruelty in Cumberland County Superior Court.
The Ingrahams pleaded ‘no contest’ and Justice Roland Cole immediately found them guilty, on Friday, June 10, 2011. All of the animal cruelty counts were against horses.
Fifteen horses as well as dogs, pigs, and additional animals were seized from the Ingrahams last year and are reportedly doing well.
Sentences for Alexis and Brett Ingraham, including possible jail time, restitution, and bans from owning horses in the future, will be handed down by Justice Cole in Kennebec County Superior Court, June 29.
The convictions cap a year of frustration and passionate lobbying, formal and informal statements by the Maine horse community.
Many felt the state Animal Welfare program dragged its heels in righting an obvious wrong and keeping horses from harm. Scores wrote to Kennebec County District Attorney Evert Fowle about their experiences with the Ingrahams.
For months, skinny horses could be seen with little hay, water, or protection from the elements at the Ingrahams’ farm, Fair Play Farm, on Tardiff Road in Clinton.
Meris Bickford filed a complaint with Animal Welfare in February, 2010, detailing her observations.
Click here to read her complaint.
Said Bickford after their convictions: “It is satisfying that the system intervened on behalf of the animals. I wish it had happened more quickly.”
The District Attorney’s office will submit statements arguing for appropriate sentencing, perhaps including a lifetime ban on equine ownership. The public may submit letters.
Send to:
District Attorney Evert N. Fowle
Kennebec County Superior Court
95 State Street
Augusta, ME 04330-5611
To read Kennebec Journal article,
click here.
A huge thank you to everyone who worked so hard to see this through. This is great news. It has restored to me some faith in the system. Perhaps this will serve as a wake up call to others - to both perpetrators and to those in power who could have done something sooner. Hopefully, the sentences will include jail time. It would also be fitting if they were made to perform SUPERVISED community service focused on the rehabilitation of animals who have fallen prey to others like them. I imagine the biggest glitch here would be trying to find someone who could actually stomach having the likes of these people in their company. It's very bothersome to think they've produced a child. Thank you again for your efforts.
Thanks to all involved for getting the job done, as well as Maddy and Nicker News for keeping us all informed. We'll see where the next step goes. At least they have been found guilty. They should never own another horse.
As great as this news is lets stop and look at the overall picture. This sorry case for a human is basically getting a slap on the hand.What we need is to have the laws re done. When it comes to our animal friends and laws protecting them the laws are a joke and a bad one at that. What will it take to get the laws re written so someone like this gets years behind bars with no parole.
So glad that the horses that could be saved....were and that they didn't get away with it!! They can't own horses for how long? Is it just in Maine?
I agree with Maddy. Let's wait and see what kind of sentence they get. It is my understanding that only 15 horses were seized by the state. Where are the rest that were in their posession at the time?
Well the 29th is tomorrow , im awaiting to hear the out come of thier sentenceing... im praying they get what's coming to them an more .. My WOOOHOOO's have been bottled up and are dieing to come screaming out ,, Oh Lord let it go as it should, so i can scream them to the top of my voice !