In this March 15, 2012 photo, horse trainer Jackie McConnell leaves the Joel W. Solomon Federal Courthouse downtown Chattanooga, Tenn. after a hearing in federal court. Photo by Doug Strickland, Associated Press.
DUANE GANG, writing for The Tennessean reports:
CHATTANOOGA — A plea agreement with prosecutors likely will keep nationally known Tennessee Walking Horse trainer Jackie L. McConnell out of prison.
McConnell, 60, featured in an undercover video beating and applying caustic chemicals to horses’ hooves, pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court in Chattanooga. He could have faced up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for his actions in violating a federal law against the abusive practice.
Prosecutors cited his age, health and federal sentencing guidelines, which are based in part on a person’s prior criminal record, for agreeing to probation. Continue reading >>
After the nightmarish cruelties committed against these horses, the Court feels sorry for McConnell? Or thinks he deserves consideration because he pleaded guilty saving the Court time and money?
Whatever his age, McConnell is plenty strong and healthy enough to vigorously beat and torture horses. So McConnell is most certainly strong and healthy enough to withstand prison time.
This is a gross injustice, and signals to everyone within reading and hearing range of this atrocity just how little America values its horses and what a pitiful legal system this country has.
I am calling the office of Harry Mattice now, shame on the state of TN. What a sick man.
Hello Ms. Herzog,
Please know that this is not spam, I would like to invite you to come to my Facebook Cause page and be in support of our protest a friend of mine and myself are holding in Tennessee the end of August. Probation is not enough for this man! We would also like you to be involved with the protest if you could,….any amount of support is appreciated. If you cannot come to Tennessee with us to get this man a harsher punishment, we understand, all we ask is that you come “Like” our Facebook cause page and pass along the info for the page to anyone that you know. Thank you so much.
https://www.facebook.com/ProtestAgainstJackieMcConnell?ref=tn_tnmn
What a shame that this creature (I refuse to use the term “man”) will walk away from this with a slap on the wrist! And in spite of national exposure! Let’s hear it for Tennessee justice for its state icon! Make no mistake about it, Mr. McConnell, poor old guy, will continue to abuse horses and make sure he’s not being watched.
Everyone keep beating the drum for all to come to the defense of the horses and animals in general. We just have to maintain our intelligent compassionate demeanor. Which is very hard to do in the face of outright brutish evil. But we must.
And please call or email your senators and congressmen – to vote on S1176 or HR2966. 2000 American horses lost their lives last week. And it being Thursday, at least a thousand have died this week. We have to ban slaughter of American horses.
Please to all invloved and following the Walking Horse verdict on Jackie McConnell I just spoke with the Judges office…They ask that we all write letters concerning this matter hand written or typed letters no e-mails or calls…..LETS START WRITING AS MANY LETTERS AS WE CAN. ….Send to 900 Georgia Ave. RM#104 Chattanoga TN.37402 Attention Judge Mattice Jr. LETS GET TO WORK to get the maximum sentence for these worthless pieces of shit….Jackie McConnell’s Age and health have nothing to do with this he abused animals even worse if there can be a worse all of his working life!
It all stops NOW!
Please join protest at the 2012 Tennessee Walking Horse Celebration in August & Sept in Shelbyville, TN. Check facebook for pages devoted to these protests for more information. Thank you.
Thank you, Peggy. God bless
Outrageous!!! How can this man walk out and continue to live his life? He was on probation when this tape was made! Do they really think this will stop him from doing it again! I don’t care about his age or health. He didn’t care about the health of the horse when the horse couldn’t even get up and he continued to beat him. Let him live the rest of his life in JAIL! I hope the Judge refuses the agreement. I don’t know how any jury could let this man walk after seeing the video. My letter is going in the mail to US District Court Judge Harry S. Mattice. We can’t let this man walk home smiling after this is over!
This freak has got to be made an example of. There has GOT to be more of a deterrent to keep this abuse from continuing. Every time I watch that video, I want to throw up. Those beautiful animals crying out for pity from a remorseless, sick, sick individual. I hope he rots in jail for the rest of his life. IT STOPS NOW!!!
The tragedy is, he is not a freak among these people. They torture these horses from the beginning of their lives to the end. Even with the Horse Protection Act, which was enacted to stop the soring of horses decades ago, it is a dismal failure. This will make the headlines for awhile, nothing will be done, and it will go on as before. Perhaps if the Judge in this case will make an example of him, it will keep a few from going to his extremes.
Please regarding the Tennessee Walking Horse Industry the Judges office is asking that any responses to any rulings pertaing to Jackie Mcconnell be written and mailed to the Judges office…..The response has been overwhelming by phone so they ask the public outcry for this case be written…EVERYONE start writing…I know this piece of dirt man Jackie McConnell has been at this for more years than anyone knows it need to STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He has no regards for anything but himself…..Lets speak out for these HORSES…It’s about time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I read with interest today’s announcement that 97% of the horses that participated in the 42nd Annual Spring Fun Show, the first big event of the Tennessee Walking Horse show season, were in compliance with federal law and industry regulations,
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120529/NEWS01/305290032/TN-Walking-Horse-show-releases-final-tally-violations
I have a hard time believing anything other than the fact that they are under scrutiny and so this atrocious group of individuals made a decisive effort to appease the public.
There is simply too much evidence to suggest otherwise.
I wish I was wrong.