A La Plata County man who was originally charged with more than 100 counts of animal cruelty has signed a plea agreement that calls for three years’ probation.
Animal Protection accused Jeffery Jackson and his wife, Elizabeth, of 115 counts of animal cruelty after a massive animal seizure was carried out on their property in November 2017 in southwest La Plata County.
In August 2018, however, those charges were reduced to just 31 counts of animal cruelty after prosecutors with the 6th Judicial District Attorney’s Office reassessed the case based on evidence collected at the scene.
In a September 2018 court filing, it came to light the animals lived in cages filled with urine and feces, had injuries that went untreated and lacked access to food and water. In one instance, a horse was in such poor condition it had to be euthanized.
Jackson’s jury trial was scheduled to begin Thursday. Instead, the plea agreement calls for three years’ probation. During that time, he is not allowed to “own or possess any animal: companion, livestock or otherwise.”
If Jackson violates the terms of his probation, a jail sentence may be imposed.
Sentencing is set for Dec. 11.
District Attorney Christian Champagne declined to comment until Jackson has been sentenced.
A similar outcome was given to Elizabeth Jackson, who is sometimes referred to in court documents by her maiden name, Miera.
In August, Elizabeth Jackson pleaded guilty to five counts of animal cruelty and was sentenced to three years’ probation. She is also not allowed to own animals during the length of her probation.
“I loved the animals,” Elizabeth Jackson said at the sentencing hearing. “Every single one of those animals had a name.”
Most animals, according to court records, were housed in a manner that resulted in “chronic or repeated serious physical harm.” The accounts show they were also deprived of necessary sustenance, mistreated and neglected.
Also, nearly all the animals were in danger of stepping on “numerous amounts of metal debris” on the property. Several animals had been injured by the metal debris, including a pig found with a nail in its foot, according to court documents.
Court records show: A horse found on the property had to be euthanized as a result of mistreatment and neglect. A duck and two chickens were “found in a filthy cage surrounded by urine and feces, without access to food or water.” A small Shih Tzu-mix dog was found with “severely matted hair and was stuck to the floor of the residence by its own feces.”
jromeo@durangoherald.com
