LIHU‘E — Attorneys involved in a cruelty to horses case met in chambers Thursday to discuss any possible changes before a scheduled March 12 trial. County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Melinda Mendes, along with Craig De Costa, counsel for defendant Lara
LIHU‘E — Attorneys involved in a cruelty to horses case met in chambers Thursday to discuss any possible changes before a scheduled March 12 trial.
County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Melinda Mendes, along with Craig De Costa, counsel for defendant Lara Butler-Brady, and Daniel Hempey, counsel for the Kaua‘i Humane Society met in chambers briefly with Chief Judge Randal Valenciano of the 5th Circuit.
Attorneys in the case said any changes to the case would be presented in open court this week and as early as today.
Butler-Brady is charged with 16 counts of cruelty to animals in a 2010 case involving horses on the 165-acre Keapana Horsemanship riding stable in Hanama‘ulu. The horses were declared emaciated by the Kaua‘i Humane Society after complaints were filed.
The horses were taken into protective custody, and Butler-Brady was indicted on July 13, 2010. The horses are maintained by the Humane Society at its Puhi shelter and through some privately owned land.
After refusing a change of plea offer last month, Butler-Brady was in court Thursday morning with DeCosta to go over pretrial motions. The trial is set to begin March 12 and expected to last up to two weeks.
If found guilty, Butler-Brady faces a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
• Tom LaVenture can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or tlaventure@ thegardenisland.com.
