Animal Abuse: Horses neglected at sanctuary - Alliance, NE | Pet-Abuse.Com Animal Cruelty Database

Cruelty Database » Case Details

Case Snapshot

Case ID: 15445

Classification: Neglect / Abandonment

Animal: horse

More cases in Morrill County, NE

More cases in NE

Person(s) in animal care

Login to Watch this Case

Attorneys/Judges

Prosecutor(s):	Jean Rhodes
Defense(s):	John Berry
Judge(s):	Leo Dobrovolny

Images for this Case

all 2 media files »

CONVICTED: Was justice served?

Please vote on whether or not you feel the sentence in this case was appropriate for the crime. (Be sure to read the entire case and sentencing before voting.)

weak sentence = one star
strong sentence = 5 stars

more information on voting

When you vote, you are voting on whether or not the punishment fit the crime, NOT on the severity of the case itself. If you feel the sentence was very weak, you would vote 1 star. If you feel the sentence was very strong, you would vote 5 stars.

Please vote honestly and realistically. These ratings will be used a a tool for many future programs, including a "Peoples Choice" of best and worst sentencing, DA and judge "report cards", and more. Try to resist the temptation to vote 1 star on every case, even if you feel that 100 years in prison isnt enough.

Currently 1.00/5
1
2
3
4
5

Case #15445 Rating: 1.0 out of 5

Horses neglected at sanctuary
Alliance, NE (US)

Incident Date: Saturday, Apr 18, 2009
County: Morrill

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 2 files available

Defendants/Suspects:
» Jason Meduna
» Anissa Meduna

Case Updates: 7 update(s) available

The operator of a Nebraska training ranch and sanctuary for Bureau of Land Management (BLM) mustangs is facing cruelty charges in connection with the alleged maltreatment of an undisclosed number of animals.

On Saturday, Morrill County authorities arrested Jason Meduna, operator of the 3-Strikes Ranch in Alliance, Neb., for animal cruelty, according to Morrill County Chief Deputy Scott Streeks. No further details were available.

The arrest took place during ongoing investigations by county authorities and the BLM.

According to the 3-Strikes Ranch Web site, Meduna trained BLM mustangs that had been repeatedly passed over for purchase or adoption. Meduna had acquired more than 210 wild horses and burros since 2007, said BLM spokesperson Cindy Wertz.

BLM investigators removed one adopted horse from the ranch prior to Meduna's arrest, Wertz said.

As the investigations continue, the horses remain at the ranch under the care of volunteers.

"The horses are still on the property and are being fed," Streeks said.

Meduna was not available for comment.

Case Updates

A Morrill County judge ordered a former rancher accused of neglecting and starving more than 200 horses to 40 months to 120 months in prison.

Jason Meduna, 43, had been seeking probation sentence after a jury convicted him last month of 145 counts of intentional animal abuse, a Class IV felony.

However, Judge Leo Dobrovolny said during sentencing that Meduna had yet to accept responsibility for his action and sentenced him to prison. In announcing his sentencing, Dobrovolny said he broke out the charges into two groups, separating charges into groupings of more than 100 counts relating to live animals suffering from malnutrition and ill health and nearly 30 charges for dead animals found on the ranch.

Dobrovolny sentenced Meduna to serve 40 to 120 months in prison and the rancher, who touted himself as a horse lover, can’t own, possess, or reside with animals for 30 years. With good time, he said Meduna could serve a minimum of 20 months in prison and be eligible for mandatory release in 60 months.

During arguments for sentencing, Morrill County Attorney Jean Rhodes argued that Meduna be ordered to serve “lengthy term of imprisonment,” be ordered to pay fines on each count and that he be disallowed from owning horses or other animals for the rest of his life. She said she was concerned that Meduna could abuse horses or other animals, citing statements by Meduna and supporters who wrote letters on his behalf indicated he planned to continue in the ranching industry.

“He deceived people for his own self-benefit,” she said of his crimes. “It did affect the horses, certainly, and people.”

While Meduna continues to assert that the neglect and starving deaths of the animals was caused by stupidity, Rhodes said he has failed to recognize that he committed criminal acts. She said testing showed that Meduna demonstrated a high probability of recidivism. She said his current efforts to gain supporters and continue his career in caring for horses demonstrated that “this will happen again.”

“There is no recognition by him that he will be held accountable by this court,” she said of Meduna’s attitude toward a case she said some animal rescue groups continue to call the worst case of horse abuse they have handled.

Meduna’s attorney, Chad Withers, argued that Meduna deserved a probation sentence, saying the neglect of the horses was accidental.

“This is a case were Mr. Meduna took in horses that no one else wanted and he got in over his head,” Withers said.

He said that Meduna made mistakes, referring to Meduna as possibly having acted stupidly, with an ego or being overly zealous. However, he said Meduna acted with negligence, not intentionally. He said Meduna was sorry that horses had become of ill health or died, but had suffered because of the case. He argued against a sentence that would not allow Meduna to possess horses or other animals.

“For a man who has worked and lived his life around horses, that is quite a punishment,” he said.

“These weren’t people,” he said. “I don’t mean to diminish the life of a horse … but I can’t equate the life of a horse to the life of a person,” he said, adding that Meduna’s life should not continue to be affected with a prison sentence. “He simply did not do a good enough job (caring for the horses).”

While Meduna spoke to the court, he continually referred to his own losses during his statement. He told Dobrovolny that as a result of the case, he had lost his ranch, his reputation and his livelihood. He asked the court to see that he had already been punished.

“These mistakes will follow me for the rest of my life,” he said, calling the situation on the ranch “a perfect storm.”

Dobrovolny said in his sentencing that despite Meduna’s statements that he was sorry, he had yet to show that he possessed remorse.

“It appears in many cases that people were taken in by you,” Dobrovolny said. “…The issue is how you dealt with the situation.”

Instead of seeking help, Meduna failed to act and concealed the deaths of the animals. He said Meduna could have acted and animals would have recovered, which he said was demonstrated by the fact that most animals did recover well after being seized by officers.

“The magnitude of the case can’t be ignored,” he said in passing sentence.

Withers had also argued a motion for a new trial, citing Dobrovolny’s decision to allow testimony from range specialist David Cook. Withers said the defense objected to testing for range conditions that Cook conducted on behalf of the Morrill County Sheriff’s Office. Dobrovolny denied the motion.

Withers said Meduna plans to appeal.

Source: Star Herald - Feb 24, 2010
Update posted on Feb 28, 2010 - 7:50PM

Back to Top

Jason Meduna, the former Nebraska training ranch operator convicted on multiple felony animal cruelty counts involving the maltreatment of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) mustangs, will appear in Morrill County District Court on Feb. 23 for sentencing.

Meduna was charged with 149 counts of class 4 felony animal abandonment and cruel animal neglect resulting in injury or death last April after Morrill County law enforcement authorities and personnel from equine welfare agencies removed more than 200 allegedly malnourished mustangs from his 3-Strikes Ranch in Alliance.

Shortly after the seizure, the BLM cited Meduna's wife, Anissa, for treating an adopted wild horse inhumanely. She paid a $325 fine, said BLM spokesperson Cindy Wertz.

Habitat for Horses, a rescue based in Texas, and the Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue in California received custody of seized animals. All the animals received veterinary and other rehabilitative care. They are all currently residing in adoptive homes.

On Jan. 15, a Morrill County jury found Meduna guilty of 145 of the charges. He was acquitted on four counts pertaining to horses discovered dead on his property, said Morrill County Attorney Jean Rhodes.

"Meduna faces up to 5 years in jail and up to $10,000 in fines for each guilty count," Rhodes said. "The judge can also put limitations on his future ownership and contact with animals."

Meduna's attorney declined to comment on the verdict.

Source: The Horse.Com - January 19, 2010
Update posted on Jan 19, 2010 - 4:42PM

Back to Top

A ranch owner who claimed he was saving mustang horses has been convicted of starving them to death.

Jason Meduna, who ran the 3 Strikes Ranch outside of Alliance, Neb., was convicted of 145 counts of animal cruelty.

The Morrill County Sheriff's Office confiscated more than 200 horses and burros from the ranch last April after investigators found 74 dead horses on the property and many more severely malnourished.

Meduna claimed the water on the ranch was poisoned, but prosecutors convinced a jury the horses were starved to death.

The surviving horses were taken to other ranches.

Meduna will be sentenced next month and faces up to five years in prison on each count.

Source: 9 News - Jan 16, 2010
Update posted on Jan 17, 2010 - 6:20PM

Back to Top

A former Morrill County ranch owner was scheduled to go on trial today in a case that brought animal rescue groups to the Panhandle to rescue abused and neglected horses.

Morrill County authorities charged Jason Meduna, 43, in April with 149 charges of animal cruelty, a Class IV felony. Authorities said he abused and neglected more than 200 horses and burros in his care, according to search warrant affidavits in the case. A total of 74 dead horses were documented at the time the ranch was searched.

Morrill County Attorney Jean Rhodes said testimony in the case could begin on Monday, depending on jury selection. The state has subpoenaed about 20 witnesses and court documents indicate that the defense plans to call 10 witnesses. Five days have been set aside for trial.

The alleged abuse and neglect of the horse came to light because of actions by Meduna, according to a search warrant affidavit filed by Morrill County Sheriff John Edens

Before his arrest, Meduna had contacted media and lobbied for help through Internet Web postings, saying that neighbors were poisoning his horses and one horse had been stolen from the ranch. The Morrill County Sheriff’s Department was investigating those claims when concerns about the condition and treatment of the animals were brought to their attention.

The ranch, touted as a wild horse sanctuary for horses adopted by the Bureau of Land Management, has not operated since Meduna’s arrest.

Meduna now lives in Wahoo, Neb., after selling the embattled ranch in December.

If convicted, Meduna faces up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000 or both for each count.

Source: Omaha World-Herald - Jan 11, 2010
Update posted on Jan 11, 2010 - 1:07PM

Back to Top

A Morrill County rancher accused of animal abuse maintains that horses and burros that once lived on his ranch suffer from the effects of poisoning.

However, in testimony Wednesday, a Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality official countered claims by Jason Meduna that water sources on his property had been poisoned.

Meduna, 42, faces 149 counts of animal cruelty, a Class IV felony, and appeared for a preliminary hearing in Morrill County Court on Wednesday. Meduna, represented by Lincoln attorney John Berry, waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

Morrill County authorities charged Meduna after arresting him April 18, alleging that Meduna starved and neglected more than 200 horses boarded on the 3-Strikes Mustang Ranch. Meduna had set up the ranch as a sanctuary for wild horses and burros adopted by Meduna and other owners from the Bureau of Land Management. Meduna owned some horses and burros on the property, while animal rescue groups and private individuals also paid for care and board of horses at the ranch.

Animal rights rescue groups removed 210 horses after Meduna's arrest. According to an arrest affidavit, Meduna's arrest followed an investigation that started with claims by Meduna that neighbors had stolen a horse from the ranch. Meduna told officers at that time that he believed that his neighbors were poisoning his horses with cattle feed.

On Tuesday, Meduna reiterated his position that the horses have suffered from poisoning, not from starvation and neglect. He maintains that 80 percent of the horses removed from the ranch "were fine, while 20 percent looked terrible."

Meduna said that he believes that a lake on his property had been poisoned with arsenic. Law enforcement "did little investigation and offered no help," he said after he contacted them about the alleged poisoning and the theft of a horse named Rayu. Meduna had contacted several media outlets after the alleged theft of Rayu, asking for the horse's return.

If his report of Rayu's theft had been investigated properly, he said, officers would have found the person responsible for the condition of the horses. He still believes that someone poisoned the horses, he said, and that he is not responsible for their poor condition.

"If you find one (the person who stole Rayu), you find the other (the person who poisoned the horses)," he said. "You get to the bottom of it all."

The Star-Herald has confirmed that Meduna did submit samples to the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) from three water sites on the property that he says show high levels of arsenic, and provide evidence that the horses were poisoned. Meduna maintained that high levels of arsenic at specifically one site, a lake on the property that served as a primary source of water for the horses, were not naturally occurring and had to be caused by poisoning.

A supporter of Meduna's, Ray Field, executive director of the Wild Horse Foundation, has even offered a $25,000 reward to find the person responsible for the poisoning of the horses, Meduna said. The reward offer has been verified on Field's Web site.

However, Brian McManus, a NDEQ public information officer, confirmed that the agency had obtained its own samples from the property after being contacted by a citizen and submitting private test results. McManus said that the NDEQ contacted Meduna last week and reported its findings to him.

"We certainly can't verify the assertion of poisoning," McManus said. In its testing, McManus said the NDEQ did find that one of the lakes tested above "chronic levels" of arsenic for surface water standards that apply to aquatic life. The standards are set to address possible polluters versus natural conditions, McManus said.

He said that the lake, which had levels of arsenic at 58 parts per billion, tested above the 16 parts per billion for standards that apply to aquatic life, but below "acute levels" of 340 parts per billion.

"The NDEQ doesn't have standards that address the feeding of livestock," he said. While the results would test above drinking water standards for arsenic that are set for municipal water sources �" with acceptable levels being up to 10 parts per billion �" he said, "you are looking at apples and oranges when you are talking about livestock drinking from it. (Drinking water standards) are conservative numbers to be highly protective of public health."

Also, McManus noted, officials notified Meduna that levels of arsenic in the water sources are consistent with natural conditions in the area.

"The standards wouldn't apply in this case because (the level of arsenic) is caused by natural conditions."

The lake with the highest levels of arsenic is in a closed basin area, which means there are no streams or rivers that feed the lake area. McManus said that Sandhill lakes have variable levels of arsenic, because of the underlying groundwater conditions. He said the NDEQ specifically noted in its reporter that in 1982, a survey from the University of Nebraska Conservation and Survey Division, drilled a test hole in 1982 a mile west of the ranch. That geologic survey located a 25-foot thick ash bed at 40 feet below the surface.

"Volcanic ash typically contains high concentrations of metal," McManus said, adding that it is the NDEQ's conclusion that the volcanic ash has resulted in the levels of arsenic found in the water sources on Meduna's property.

While Meduna's lawyer did not comment on the allegations of poisoning, Berry said that Meduna "is presumed innocent until proven guilty."

Berry said that Meduna and defense lawyers have not seen records or evidence in the case.

"We are looking forward to finding out as much as we can about the charges against Mr. Meduna."

Berry said that the involvement of various rescue organizations and other agencies has "complicated the matter." Meduna said that he believes those organizations and agencies "are after one thing �" money. It's all about making money."

Meduna is scheduled to appear on July 14, 1:30 p.m., in Morrill County District Court.

Morrill County Prosecutor Jean Rhodes said she would not comment on the case, including Meduna's claims about arsenic poisoning.

Source: Star Herald - June 20, 2009
Update posted on Jun 21, 2009 - 3:31PM

Back to Top

It has been more than a month since over 200 horses were seized and rescued from Three Strikes Ranch in Nebraska. The owner, Jason Meduna, took in wild and unwanted horses. But authorities found an estimated 100 dead horses on the 1600-acre ranch back in April. The surviving horses were placed with rescue organizations and foster homes.

"I've heard estimates from 80 to 130 (dead horses)," said Hildy Armour, Executive Director of Colorado Horse Rescue. "I'm not sure anybody knows. There were ravines full of corpses, piles of dead foals with boards on top."

Colorado Horse Rescue took in eight of those horses from the ranch in Nebraska. Four are at the facility in Longmont. The other four are at a foster care facility. Hildy says they are mustangs. Most of them are feral and need handling and training before they can be adopted out. They're not used to being handled. Trainers are working with the horses so that they can find them good homes in the future.

"We could say it breaks our hearts, but the thing that makes it work -- the horses get here, they're safe here, they get better, we find them new homes," said Armour. "That's the bottom line; that's how we do the work."

Colorado Horse Rescue held an open house Sunday so the public could meet all of the horses up for adoption. There are nearly 60 horses that either need homes now, or will in the near future. The open house also gave the public the chance to learn about the different programs offered such as riding lessons, horse camps, and the horse sponsorship program where someone can financially support a horse. The more horses that can be adopted out, the more room is made for horses who may need to be rescued in the future.

"We're very careful where we adopt them," said Armour. "We don't transfer ownership for six months, after we've made site visits to make sure it works for us and that it works for the perspective owner."

The future is looking promising for the horses rescued from Nebraska. Several people have already put in applications to adopt one of the mares and her foal, Angel and Rowan, even though it will be several months before the foal is weaned or able to be separated from mom.

Meduna faces one count of animal cruelty. More charges are expected to be filed.

Source: CBS4 - June 7, 2009
Update posted on Jun 7, 2009 - 8:29PM

Back to Top

More than 200 wild horses and burros were removed from the 3-Strikes Ranch near Alliance because of allegations of abuse and neglect, and ranch owner Jason Meduna, 42, was arrested last week on one count of animal cruelty. He posted 10 percent of a $20,000 bond and was released from jail.

The emaciated horses were legally surrendered last week to horse rescue groups Habitat for Horses and Lifesavers Foundation.

The ranch first came to the attention of law enforcement when Meduna contacted media and police last month regarding a mustang he believed to have been stolen. He also said someone had been poisoning his horses. Court documents indicate law enforcement interviewed neighbors who produced photos of horse carcasses allegedly left on Meduna's property, as well as pictures of overgrazed grass and of horses reaching across fences in an effort to find food.

The court records also say the Morrill County Sheriff's Department flew over the property April 9 and discovered a horse that appeared to have been down for days and a large number of horses in a corral with no evidence of feed. Earlier that week, the Bureau of Land Management visited the ranch to inspect five horses under BLM jurisdiction that were being boarded at 3-Strikes. Meduna told the BLM four of the horses had already died. The fifth horse, found in poor condition, was removed from the ranch.

An arrest affidavit cites BLM officials as saying that 175 horses were boarded at the 1,900-acre ranch.

Jerry Finch, of the Texas-based Habitat for Horses, found that Meduna's ranch in Morrill County had pastures devoid of grass with little or no edible grazing. On April 26, Finch accompanied a sheriff's deputy in a flyover of the property and discovered the bodies of more than 60 dead horses. Nearly all of the animals on the ranch were malnourished; their back, ribs and hip bones were very pronounced.

The horses were quickly moved to the Bridgeport Rodeo Grounds, where veterinarians and volunteers will examine and treat each horse as needed. Finch estimates that more than 30 stallions were comingled in herds, indicating that many of the mares may be pregnant. According to Jill Starr of Lifesavers Foundation, "the ultimate goal is to place these animals in homes and facilities capable of addressing their needs and where they will have the opportunity to thrive."

But Ray Fields, founder of the Wild Horse Foundation in Texas, said transporting the horses to other locations may have been premature and could have aided the spread of contagious diseases. Fields said blood work and nasal swabs should have been conducted before the animals were moved. He said failure to do so could possibly mean the spread of salmonella and rhinovirus.

Salmonella can be spread through air, water and direct contact. It can be transmitted to humans.

Fields said he has talked to Meduna since his arrest and believes he may have inadvertently adopted horses that had recently recovered from a salmonella outbreak at an adoption center in Nevada. Fields claims Meduna adopted horses from Palomino Valley Adoption Center in January 2008 and said there is at least the possibility that some of the infected horses were sent to Nebraska. Then, when the horses became stressed again, due either to harsh storms with fluctuating temperatures that the area experienced, inadequate feed or a combination of both, the salmonella may have resurfaced.

"All it takes is one to break out with salmonella or rhino, and everybody's got it," Fields said. "(Salmonella) is extremely detrimental to animals." Fields said he isn't trying to excuse any alleged neglect, but he is concerned about making sure if the horses are diseased that they are stopped from spreading those diseases. Moving the horses before they were given a complete examination, including blood work-ups and nasal swabs, was a mistake, he said. Officials should have put at least considered the possibility of disease once they knew some of the animals came from Palomino Valley.

If salmonella is a contributing factor to the horses' poor condition, moving them has spread the disease to every trailer used to haul them, as well as to the fairgrounds, which means more ranches and more horses could become infected. The disease can cause weight loss, dehydration and diarrhea and can live in the soil for more than 300 days.

Adoptions of the animals or moving them to the Texas and California-based rescue operations that have agreed to take them will further complicate the problem, Fields said.

He called for every horse to be tested immediately.

"This is about education. This is about prevention," he said. "How bad do they want this disease to be spread?"

Source: Rapid City Journal - May 2, 2009
Update posted on May 4, 2009 - 1:46PM

Back to Top

References

The Horse Magazine - April 20, 2009
Omaha World Herald - April 23, 2009

« More cases in Morrill County, NE

Note: Classifications and other fields should not be used to determine what specific charges the suspect is facing or was convicted of - they are for research and statistical purposes only. The case report and subsequent updates outline the specific charges. Charges referenced in the original case report may be modified throughout the course of the investigation or trial, so case updates, when available, should always be considered the most accurate reflection of charges.

For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.

Site Map ¤ Disclaimer ¤ Privacy Policy

Horses neglected at sanctuaryAlliance, NE (US)

Case Updates

References

Horses neglected at sanctuary
Alliance, NE (US)