Man Given 30 Days After Shooting Father's Horse

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A Conner man pleaded guilty Thursday to shooting his father's horse following an argument in February.

In return for the guilty plea, felony charges of assault with a weapon and criminal mischief were dropped against 36-year-old Jalen Ore Elliott.

Elliott's father, Olen, told Ravalli County District Judge James Haynes Thursday that his son "just had a bad day and didn't know what he was doing" when he used a .45-caliber handgun to shoot an 8-year-old horse in the neck.

Everyone has bad days! We don't all go out and shoot horses! Ways to deal with a bad day = Have a beer. Read a book. Watch TV. Relax. Watch a movie. Talk to someone. Punch a wall.

Running outside with a handgun and shooting a horse is not on that list. Not only is that cruelty to animals, it's also stupid, irresponsible, and dangerous. He knew exactly what he was doing. If someone ran outside with a handgun right now and shot a woman, they couldn't say "I had a bad day and I didn't know what I was doing" and get away with it.

"He told me several times that he's sorry," Olen Elliott said.

And this improves the situation how exactly?

Court records originally said Elliott threatened his father and another man with the handgun after he shot the horse. Elliott allegedly told the hired man he would shoot his father and burn down his barn if law enforcement was called.
Deputy County Attorney Bill Fulbright provided the court with photographs of the dead horse that showed the bullet wound in its neck and the blood trail it made following the shooting.

"You don't shoot an animal in the middle of the neck if you want it to die quickly," Fulbright said. "This was just an act of cruelty ... there was no reason for it except that he was angry at the time."

You don't shoot an animal period. Okay, I'll take that back, there are extenuating circumstances when I've heard of people shooting horses. But that was because the horse was severely injured and a vet couldn't get out in time.

Haynes followed Fulbright's sentencing recommendation of one year in the Ravalli County Detention Center with all suspended but 30 days. Elliott was also fined $300.

Elliott was given credit for the 14 days he had already served.

At the end of the hearing, Elliott told the judge he would not see him again.

"I did it," Elliott said. "I shot the horse ... I don't have a criminal record and you'll never have a problem with me again. This whole thing scared me to death. I'm sorry."

Elliot was taken into custody immediately following the hearing to begin serving the remaining 16 days.