Animal abuse verdict set aside for lawmaker
After a judge found him guilty of animal abuse, a Missouri lawmaker is arguing he should get a new trial because the crime he was charged with was repealed by the General Assembly.
The repeal came through a bill he supported.
Today, a judge vacated the lawmaker’s verdict.
Rep. Warren Love, R-Osceola, was found guilty in a bench trial in October of one charge of animal abuse, a misdemeanor.
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The original animal neglect charge said Love in August 2012 “knowingly failed to provide adequate control of the animal(s) by failing to provide adequate fencing to keep the cattle contained on his own property which failure resulted in property damage to adjacent land owner.”
The new charge of animal abuse filed once again accused Love of having knowingly failed to provide adequate control of his animals.
Love voted for a bill in the General Assembly this spring that changed the definition of animal abuse. The bill passed and went into effect in August.
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20131118/NEWS11/311180084/Animal-abuse-Warren-Love-verdict-set-aside-for-lawmaker