Posted on 05/27/2010 9:19:17 AM PDT by ResistorSister
MARYSVILLE, Ohio -- A man accused of abusing cows at a local dairy farm said in court Thursday that he is studying to become a police officer in Ohio.
Billy Joe Gregg, 25, appeared in court, charged with 12 counts of cruelty to animals.
The charges against Gregg were filed after an animal welfare group released graphic video Tuesday that was secretly recorded and shows workers at Conklin Dairy Farms in Plain City beating cows with crowbars, stabbing them with pitchforks and punching them in their heads.
The video shows workers holding down newborn calves and stomping on their heads. It shows one worker wiring a cow's nose to a metal bar near the ground and repeatedly beating it with another bar while it bleeds.
Click here to watch the full video clip. (WARNING: The video is graphic and disturbing.)
Bond was set for Gregg at $100,000. He asked for a court-appointed attorney and claimed in court that he is a disabled Army veteran and former police officer.
He said he has spent the last six years in the Army and is studying to become a police officer in Ohio.
Prosecutors said charges are possible against other people.
Each of the 12 charges holds a maximum fine of $750 and is punishable by 90 days in jail. According to the prosecutor, if convicted, Gregg could face 90 days in jail per charge.
Gregg is next scheduled to appear in court on June 10 at 8 a.m. for a preliminary hearing.
The video was recorded in an undercover investigation at the farm, said Mercy For Animals, a not-for-profit group that publicizes what it calls cruel practices in the dairy, meat and egg industries and promotes a vegan diet.
Conklin Dairy Farms, a fourth-generation family operation based in Plain City, said it takes the care of its cows and calves very seriously and had reviewed the video.
"The video shows animal care that is clearly inconsistent with the high standards we set for our farm and its workers, and we find the specific mistreatment shown on the video to be reprehensible and unacceptable," Gary Conklin, of Conklin Dairy Cattle Sales LLC, said Tuesday night in an e-mailed statement. "We will not condone animal abuse on our farm."
An Ohio Department of Agriculture spokesperson told NBC 4 that 100 percent of Conklin Dairy Farms' milk is sold to Minerva Dairy in Minerva, Ohio. The ODA said Minerva does not sell the milk to stores, but uses it to make cheese. The ODA spokesperson said Minerva is not required to report stores selling its products to the state.
Minerva Farms plant manager Dave Saling tells NBC 4 his company has discontinued all business with Conklin Dairy Farms. He declined to name which retailers sell its products in the Central Ohio market.
Mercy For Animals' executive director, Nathan Runkle, said the cow video was shot between April 28 and Sunday by an undercover worker at the dairy, about 25 miles northwest of Columbus. He said the documented abuse violates Ohio's anti-animal cruelty statute.
If you think many farmers treat their animals like this you're nuts. Methinks you have an agenda. What's your association with "animal rights" groups ?
Although, I am a member of Friends of the Pound in Stark County, Ohio. Our website is starkdogs.org - an all volunteer organization that cares for the homeless dogs at the pound. The pound used to be a 'kill pound' - but since FOTP has stepped in, we have been able to find homes for over a 1000 dogs and puppies every year.
Listen, I stand by my statement because obviously the video caught a glimpse of the dark underbelly (seamy, hidden area) of agribusiness; most Americans are not aware of the fact that some (not many) farmers do mistreat their animals.
Why, are some former vets and police officers supporting him? Idiot!
I think we could be friends!
Dump the 'guilt by association' mantra you are chanting and look at the world like a normal person and you may be right. That doesn't change the facts that what you said and your views on agribusiness are idiotic.
Yeah, he has that whole intentional use of excessive force thing down pat.
Honestly, I wasn't grouping; I was just throwing out the concept known as "heading it off at the pass" you know, admit the guy was wrong before the media could group him by association with vets and cops.
You and I may never view the world the same, nor think along the same lines, but I would never call you an idiot. Take care.
I don't, and suspect those who believe in individual responsibility don't either.
you have grouped me in with all the idiots that do not view the world exactly as you do.
No, I group you with people who espouse guilt by association and because the guy claimed he was a vet therefore vets need to condemn him. Additionally I grouped you with people who make statements about agribusiness animal husbandry that more properly belong over at DU, IOW idiots.
but I would never call you an idiot.
If I made statements like that I would hope someone would. I apologize if I offended you.
Exactly. And there are more of them out there.
You didn’t offend me. When I read your post I thought, ‘dang, I have to work harder at explaining my thoughts in writing on these post. :-) Have a great day!
I find it frightful that he will ever be in a position to be around any living creatures - human or otherwise.
He is a murderous time bomb. He appears to have a need to beat and abuse the helpless. I've a suspicion he'd never pick a fair fight.
To be fair, I don't think we lack understanding about this...and "dark underbelly" is, I believe, a bit of an exaggeration!
That said, there certainly are cases of horrific animal abuse, of both domestic and farm animals. I think it's more prevalent with dogs, horses and "cock-fighting" rings than it is among farming operations (I'm not talking the industrial chicken farms - don't know much about that)...
Also, I suppose this whole family dairy farm operation could be incredibly corrupt (maybe the latest heir is a psychopath, too) and whenever it's determined who's culpable, the perp's should be shot, because the penalties for animal abuse are not severe enough in Ohio!!
(an aside: thank you for your work at the animal rescue! all but one of our dogs - 2 at the moment, 4 others in Heaven - have been adopted from shelters, and wonderful animals, so well deserving of a home! The one non-shelter dog was "rescued" from my mother-in-law, LOL! It's tragic there are so many out there, and bless you for helping them!)
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