AnimalVoicesNews Source: AP Link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16950980/
PETA workers cleared of animal cruelty They euthanized shelter animals; judge fines them for dumping carcasses Updated: 5:21 p.m. MT Feb 2, 2007 WINTON, N.C. - A jury found two animal-rights workers not guilty Friday of animal cruelty for euthanizing animals they took from shelters, but both were convicted of littering for dumping the carcasses in a trash bin. Adria Hinkle and Andrew Cook, two employees of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, were cleared of eight misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. Hinkle also was found not guilty of three felony counts of obtaining property by false pretenses. Both received a 10-day suspended jail sentence and a year of supervised probation, meaning neither will serve jail time. Their van will be confiscated by police and each was ordered to pay $4,000 in fines and court costs. "I gave the penalty I thought was appropriate," Superior Court Judge Cy Grant said. As she left the courtroom after the two-week trial, Hinkle said she was relieved. "Justice was served," she said. Cook declined immediate comment. Hinkle and Cook had testified that they euthanized the animals in the back of their van to relieve the animals' suffering. They said they disposed of the bodies in Hertford County, instead of driving them back to the PETA offices in Virginia, because the smell was overwhelming. The animals were picked up from several shelters in northeast North Carolina. Hinkle, 28, of Norfolk, Va., and Cook, 26, of Virginia Beach, had each faced 21 felony counts of animal cruelty until Grant reduced those charges Thursday, saying prosecutors failed to prove malice, a necessary element of the felony charge. The pair was arrested in June 2005 after police said they saw them dump several bags of dead animals behind a grocery store. Police said they found more dead animals in the pair's van. Local shelter officials said they were unaware that PETA planned to euthanize most of the animals it picked up, but a PETA official testified that she told county officials of the policy. Hinkle testified that she never told the shelters the animals wouldn't be euthanized. Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. © 2007 MSNBC.com © 2007 Microsoft ---------------- Source: AP Link: http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070203/APA/702030 518 Published February 03. 2007 3:30AM PETA Workers Cleared of Animal Cruelty By SAMUEL SPIES Associated Press Writer PETA workers Andrew Cook and Adria Hinkle hug in Hertford County Criminal Superior Court Friday, Feb. 2, 2007, in Winton, N.C., after a jury found them not guilty of animal cruelty for euthanizing animals they picked up from shelters, but guilty of littering for dumping the animals' bodies. (AP Photo/Calvin Bryant, Pool) WINTON, N.C. | A jury cleared two animal rights workers of animal cruelty charges Friday for euthanizing cats and dogs they took from shelters, but both were convicted of littering for dumping the carcasses in a trash bin. Adria Hinkle and Andrew Cook, two employees of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, were cleared of eight misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. Hinkle also was found not guilty on three felony counts of obtaining property by false pretenses. Both received a 10-day suspended jail sentence and a year of supervised probation. Their van will be confiscated by police and each was ordered to pay $4,000 in fines and restitution. They will also each have to serve 50 hours of community service. As she left the courtroom after the two-week trial, Hinkle said she was relieved. "Justice was served," she said. "The important thing is the jury recognized they were never guilty of cruelty," PETA spokeswoman Kathy Guillermo said. "We're relieved, we're happy." "It's a disgrace," said Andrea Press, a member of Responsible Dog Owners of Eastern States. "PETA preaches to everybody not to hurt and kill animals. And they just proved it's OK for them to do it. They're hypocrites." The animals were picked up from several shelters in northeast North Carolina. The pair testified that they euthanized the animals in the back of their van to relieve the animals' suffering. They said they disposed of the bodies in a garbage bin rather than drive them back to PETA offices in Virginia, because the stench from the carcasses was overwhelming. Hinkle, 28, of Norfolk, Va., and Cook, 26, of Virginia Beach were arrested in June 2005 after police said they saw them dump several bags of dead animals into a trash bin behind a grocery store. Police said they found more dead animals in the pair's van. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> This is distibuted for nonprofit research and educational purposes only. 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