Paragallo Given Maximum Sentence

Link

*celebrates*

Ernie Paragallo, a prominent horse owner and breeder, was given the maximum sentence of two years in jail and a $33,000 fine on Tuesday, after his conviction on 33 counts of animal cruelty for starving and neglecting horses on his farm in the Hudson Valley.

After a sentencing hearing in Greene County, N.Y., Judge George J. Pulver Jr. delivered the sentence, which will also include restitution to animal rescue groups. Pulver said the amount of the restitution would be determined at a later hearing.

“Your moral compass is out of kilter and points you in improper directions,” Pulver told Paragallo at his sentencing. “Your sense of integrity, your code of conduct, your perception of right and wrong was perhaps formed by your days on either mean streets or Wall Street.”

Wish he could sentence all horse abuse cases...

The Columbia-Greene Humane Society and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals spent more than $82,000 caring for and finding homes for 96 of Paragallo’s mistreated horses. Six horses were too sick to recover and were euthanized.

Perhaps he should pay for that too. I think he is though.

In New York, tighter regulations have been put in to bar horsemen who have committed inhumane acts. In December the New York Racing Association said it would bar owners or trainers from competing at its racetracks if any of their horses were sold for slaughter.

Paragallo’s lawyer, Michael Howard, said he believed the sentence was too long and that his client would appeal.

“I am exceeding disappointed with the severity of the sentence,” Howard said. “He’s 52 with no prior record. The maximum sentence is not warranted.”

Do you really think that or are you just saying that because you lost? The maximum sentence is most certainly warranted. It ought to be worse. So he'll be 54 when he gets out of jail. If he'd murdered a person, I wouldn't stand up and say no to life because he's 52.