Error delays animal torture trial
By Kat Russell, Reporter
The Paducah Sun
November 24, 2015
http://www.paducahsun.com/news/local/112415_PS_Ream_Mistrial
WICKLIFFE, Ky. — Due to an error during jury selection Monday, the Ballard County trial of a Barlow man, who is accused of poisoning neighborhood dogs, ended before even getting started with a mistrial declared.
Edward Ream, 64, is charged with multiple counts of animal torture, attempted torture and criminal mischief.
In court Monday, some 40 people reported for duty and the interview process began. Potential jurors were asked about their previous legal experiences, if they'd ever served on a jury and about their love of animals.
Once the pool was whittled down to 12 - eight men and four women - and the jury was seated, court officials prepared to start the trial when a mistake was noticed. One of the jurors who was struck from the pool was mistakingly included among those selected to serve.
Seeing as a majority of those who reported for jury duty had already been dismissed and left the courthouse, Circuit Judge Tim Langford opted to declare a mistrial rather than begin the selection process again.
"I contemplated having the sheriff go to the parking lot, round up whoever he could and toss them in here, but y'all would sit here for probably about two hours before we could round up those others ... and go through the process again," Langford said, adding that if he had done so, the trial would not have been finished within its allotted time frame.
"The good news is there has been no proof presented here, no jeopardy, so the case can go forward," the judge continued. "Ream can have his day in court,
the commonwealth will have its chance to prove its case, but it will not happen today."
With that, Langford scheduled a pretrial conference for Dec. 4, when a new trial date will be set.
Ream was originally cited on Feb. 6 after county authorities searched his North Adkins Road residence and found containers of food soaking in what they believed to be antifreeze.
Animal control officer James Campbell said a warrant was obtained after the agency received an anonymous tip. The tipster, he said, was a neighbor who'd mistakenly received Ream's mail and had gone to drop it off when he saw a container of meat soaking in antifreeze.
Officers said they searched the premises and found four containers of soaking food as well as a half-empty gallon of antifreeze.
When he spoke to Ream, Campbell said he stated he was tired of dogs going to the bathroom on his back porch.
Ream faces 11 charges for which he could face a sentence of up to five years in prison.
Contact Kat Russell, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.
Edward Ream, 64, is charged with multiple counts of animal torture, attempted torture and criminal mischief.
In court Monday, some 40 people reported for duty and the interview process began. Potential jurors were asked about their previous legal experiences, if they'd ever served on a jury and about their love of animals.
Once the pool was whittled down to 12 - eight men and four women - and the jury was seated, court officials prepared to start the trial when a mistake was noticed. One of the jurors who was struck from the pool was mistakingly included among those selected to serve.
Seeing as a majority of those who reported for jury duty had already been dismissed and left the courthouse, Circuit Judge Tim Langford opted to declare a mistrial rather than begin the selection process again.
"I contemplated having the sheriff go to the parking lot, round up whoever he could and toss them in here, but y'all would sit here for probably about two hours before we could round up those others ... and go through the process again," Langford said, adding that if he had done so, the trial would not have been finished within its allotted time frame.
"The good news is there has been no proof presented here, no jeopardy, so the case can go forward," the judge continued. "Ream can have his day in court,
the commonwealth will have its chance to prove its case, but it will not happen today."
With that, Langford scheduled a pretrial conference for Dec. 4, when a new trial date will be set.
Ream was originally cited on Feb. 6 after county authorities searched his North Adkins Road residence and found containers of food soaking in what they believed to be antifreeze.
Animal control officer James Campbell said a warrant was obtained after the agency received an anonymous tip. The tipster, he said, was a neighbor who'd mistakenly received Ream's mail and had gone to drop it off when he saw a container of meat soaking in antifreeze.
Officers said they searched the premises and found four containers of soaking food as well as a half-empty gallon of antifreeze.
When he spoke to Ream, Campbell said he stated he was tired of dogs going to the bathroom on his back porch.
Ream faces 11 charges for which he could face a sentence of up to five years in prison.
Contact Kat Russell, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.
