MERCY'S CASE: DEFENSE SUBPOENAS DONOR RECORDS; OPERATION KINDNESS FILES

[Guest guest]

Vegetarian Network of Dallas Co-President's note: See below email from

Operation Kindness. Our system of justice is in sad shape for this to

happen. Let us hope Brown and his attorney's are not successful. Way to go

Jonnie and Randy for standing up for what is right. Margaret

 

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FYI: This news release was sent out yesterday. I wanted to keep you updated.

 

Jonnie England

Executive Director

Operation Kindness

www.operationkindness.org

 

STOP ANIMAL ABUSE...FOR MERCY'S SAKE. MEDIA ALERT OPERATION KINDNESS FILES

MOTION TO QUASH SUBPOENAED DONOR RECORDS IN FELONY ANIMAL CRUELTY CASE

INVOLVING MERCY THE DOG

 

Operation Kindness is filing a Motion to Quash information subpoenaed by the

defense in the case of DeShawn Brown, who is charged with felony cruelty to

animals in the 2006 death of the abused dog Mercy.

 

The motion will be considered at a bond hearing at 9 a.m. Monday, July 2.

Brown has been ordered to appear at the hearing, which will take place in

Criminal District Court No. 6 before Judge Jeanine Howard in the Frank

Crowley Courts Building, 133 N. Industrial Blvd. in Dallas.

 

" I received a subpoena Wednesday afternoon that requests, among other things,

information regarding individuals who made donations to Operation Kindness

to help pay for Mercy's veterinary bills, " said Jonnie England, executive

director of the no-kill animal shelter that took in the burned and

bleeding dog in April 2006.

 

" We believe that providing the subpoenaed information would be an invasion of

privacy of our donors, " said England.

 

" In addition, we consider this information irrelevant and immaterial to

any issue in the case. " England said the subpoena, issued by defense

attorney Dan Wyde, also asks for the names and contact information of

anyone who provided leads in the case and who, therefore, could

potentially receive a reward. Operation Kindness, The Humane Society of

the United States and two individuals offered an $11,000 reward for

information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible

for Mercy's death.

 

Mercy was found huddled in the bushes behind a North Dallas apartment complex

on April 14, 2006. The two men who discovered the bleeding and suffering dog

took her to Operation Kindness. The 10-month-old pit bull puppy was

immediately taken to a veterinarian for treatment but died 10 days later.

Veterinarians who tried to save her life said the young dog had been doused

with gasoline and set on fire.

 

Brown, who lived at the complex at Preston and Beltline, was arrested and

charged with animal cruelty and use of a deadly weapon, a third-degree felony

that could get him 10 years in prison if convicted. Although the judge who

signed the arrest warrant set bail at $50,000, the jail magistrate reduced

it to $2,500. Brown was released on a $250 cash bond the same day he was

arrested and has remained out on bail.

 

Brown's jury trial is scheduled to begin Monday, August 6, in the same court.

The prosecutor in the case is Assistant District Attorney David Alex.

Representing Operation Kindness is Randall E. Turner, president of the Texas

Humane Legislation Network (THLN).

 

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