Paul Keller, 43, David Lee Guice, 35, and Peggy Sue Guice, 25, are each charged with three felony animal cruelty counts after authorities found about 100 dead cattle, horses, goats and pigs on Keller's property in March. Each count carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison.
A Sept. 8 preliminary hearing has been set for the Guices, but Cohen said that would likely be delayed until Sept. 28, 2004 to coincide with Keller's hearing. Case Updates| Posted on Feb 11, 2005 - 12:58PM | Guice will be released from jail on Friday, Feb. 18. He pleaded guilty to one count of animal cruelty in November and was sentenced to three years probation. Part of terms of his probation included 60 days in the county jail. He will be released after serving 45 days with credit for good behavior, according to interim Tehama County Animal Regulation Division director Ken Beauregard.
The former owner of the property, Paul Ernest Keller Jr., 43, pleaded no contest to one count of animal cruelty and was also sentenced to three years probation. His terms of probation included 90 days of jail, but he is expected to be released on March 9 after serving 60 days with credit for good behavior.
While terms of probation for the two include not owning, possessing, caring for or having any contact with any animals, there are exceptions. Guice will be allowed to keep possession of a Queensland heeler-Apache dog.
Keller will be allowed to own cattle as a business herd as long as it is preapproved by his probation officer and a protection plan is in place. In a memo from the probation department to Keller dated Feb. 2, the protection plan includes Keller keeping records of any additions or deletions to the herd, and a bill of sale for all animals. He will also need to provide proof of vaccinations for each animal and report any sign of illness or injuries within 24 hours to the local animal control officer.
Keller sold his property in October and is now living in Napa County.
Beauregard said that Napa County officials are aware of Keller's conviction. "We're working closely with Napa County animal control," Beauregard said. "This was the most egregious case of animal hoarding I've run across."
Beauregard's past includes a variety of law enforcement and animal related experiences including three years as the captain of investigations for the San Diego Humane Society.
The two men will also be required to complete a psychological or psychiatric counseling/treatment program at their own expense. | | Source: Red Bluff Daily News - Feb 11, 2005 |
| Posted on Jan 6, 2005 - 9:01AM | The two men convicted of animal cruelty in a case where hundreds of animals were found dead or near death on a ranch near Corning will be granted probation. The terms of their probation will be determined next week.
Keller pleaded no contest to one count of animal cruelty in November. Keller is the owner of the Black Butte Road property where a "substantial number" of dead cattle, goats, horses and pigs were found in March, 2004. Other animals on the property were found to be emaciated and in extremely poor condition.
The man hired to manage the property and animals, David Lee Guice, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of animal cruelty. Charges against his wife were dropped.
The Daily News has also learned that the ranch where the animals were found has been sold. A deed recorded with the county on Oct. 27, 2004, shows that Paul and Jeannette Keller sold four parcels of land to Thomas E. Frankovich of the Bay area.
During the sentencing hearing, Tehama County Superior Court Judge Dennis Murray said the two men had tried to place the blame on each other.
"The excuses are rather paltry," Murray said.
Murray told Paul Keller that he "cannot wash responsibility by pointing the finger" at Guice. He added that Keller was ultimately responsible as the owner of the animals and as the person who hired the caretaker.
Murray told Guice that he should have sought outside help if Keller was not providing enough food for the animals. "Certainly, a reasonable person would have known there was someone else to seek out rather than let animals die," Murray said.
Keller's sentence of two years in prison was suspended and he was placed on probation. Guice's sentence was suspended for three years and he was also granted probation. Both men have been order to visit the probation department by the end of the week so that the terms of their probation can be determined. | | Source: Red Bluff Daily News - Jan 4, 2005 |
| Posted on Aug 26, 2004 - 1:56PM | Keller will return to court for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 28.
Paul Keller, 29, David Lee Guice, 35, and Peggy Sue Guice, 25, are each charged with three felony animal cruelty counts after authorities found about 100 dead cattle, horses, goats and pigs on Keller's property in March. Each count carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison.
A Sept. 8 preliminary hearing has been set for the Guices, but Cohen said that would likely be delayed until Sept. 28 to coincide with Keller's hearing. | | Source: kesq.com |
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