More major media coverage.

We've been waiting a long time for this.

County Ordered to Reimburse Horse Owner Accused of Neglect
Posted: May 19, 2008 07:43 AM
Alison Himelhoch, WLNS TV 6 Lansing Jackson Michigan

A big blow for Jackson County. A judge has ordered the county to pay thousands of dollars to a local horse owner. You may recall the owner and a caretaker are accused of neglecting dozens of race horses. For James Henderson, horses are his passion.

James Henderson: "Raise and race and barrel race horses, I love doing that."

And soon he'll be able to afford to do that a lot more. Friday, a judge ruled Jackson County must pay Henderson for property he used to own.

James Henderson: "I was overjoyed."

Fourteen months ago, Jackson County Animal Control seized 69 horses owned by Henderson. They say the horses had been neglected. They treated the animals and sold them in auctions last year. Matt Mercier was the animal's caretaker, which is why the judge says it wasn't fair for Henderson to have to forfeit the animals.

James Henderson: "The law is in our favor, I'm not the caretaker of the horses. I believed Matt was taking care of horses, always taken care of horses appropriately before."

Prosecutor: "We believe, with all due respect, that the district court judge made a legal mistake in his ruling. What he's saying is, if you don't want to be responsible for your animals, just hire a resident agent and they can never take the animals away from you."

But the prosecutor says this case isn't over yet.

Prosecutor: "We will be appealing this, no doubt about that."

Because he says, if they don't, the county will have trouble paying Henderson back.

Prosecutor: "The county is hurting financially and this certainly wouldn't help."

James Henderson: "I would say probably close to $500,000. That's just the animals, that's not including my other property."

Money which Henderson says will help him move forward.

James Henderson: "What's next for me is I'll be buying a really nice farm."

A district court judge will now decide just how much the county will have to pay Henderson, but that case could be delayed when the county appeals the forfeiture decision.

All content © Copyright 2000 - 2008 WorldNow and WLNS. All Rights Reserved.

It feels good to have taken a part in exposing Jackson County's misguided forfeiture and being a part of seeing justice for the defendants.

Worried about paying for what you took, Jackson County? Should have thought of that before ignoring due process and the Right To Farm Act and standard operating procedure ... should have never taken those horses and all that personal property still missing ... should have never underestimated the farmers and livestock owners out there who make a daily living on "messy" farms to put food on your table and mine.