Man pleads guilty to animal torture
The Paducah Sun, Reporter
The Paducah Sun
December 5, 2015
http://www.paducahsun.com/news/local/120515_PS_Ream_Plea
Instead of setting a new trial date in the Ballard County case against Edward Ream, who was accused of poisoning several neighborhood dogs, a plea agreement was entered Friday.
Ream, 64, of Barlow pleaded guilty to one count of animal torture and one count of first-degree criminal mischief. He admitted to putting out antifreeze-soaked food that harmed several neighbors' dogs, whose treatment cost some pet owners more than $1,000. He also conceded to being responsible for the death of one dog.
The commonwealth recommended a sentence of five years in prison for each charge to run consecutively for a total of 10 years.
It is possible Ream's case will be eligible for diversion, said Commonwealth Attorney Mike Stacy. The judge will decide that at the sentencing Jan. 15.
If diversion is deemed appropriate, Stacy said Ream's sentence will be diverted for five years, during which he has to show he can adhere to certain terms.
Those conditions include not owning any chemicals or storing chemicals in a way that is accessible to animals, not possessing any handguns or firearms, and allowing law enforcement officers to search his property at any time.
If diversion is approved and Ream complies with those terms, the charges would be dismissed after five years, Stacy said. If not approved, Ream will be sentenced.
Ream originally faced 11 counts, several of which were misdemeanors that were dismissed before trial because they fell outside the 12-month filing period.
Stacy said he argued against the dismissal because the charges spoke to a pattern in Ream's behavior, but the judge disagreed.
When news of Ream's case broke, County Attorney Vicki Hayden called it an "emotional issue" for the community, saying there had been much public outcry, particularly because Ream was cited rather than arrested. His not being arrested, however, did not lessen the seriousness of the crimes, she added.
Ream was originally cited 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.
After court Friday, Stacy said he made the deal with the victims' approval.
"I wouldn't have done so without their agreement," he said. "No matter what we did, that's not going to bring back those animals to their owners ... but it does bring some closure."
Contact Kat Russell, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.
Ream, 64, of Barlow pleaded guilty to one count of animal torture and one count of first-degree criminal mischief. He admitted to putting out antifreeze-soaked food that harmed several neighbors' dogs, whose treatment cost some pet owners more than $1,000. He also conceded to being responsible for the death of one dog.
The commonwealth recommended a sentence of five years in prison for each charge to run consecutively for a total of 10 years.
It is possible Ream's case will be eligible for diversion, said Commonwealth Attorney Mike Stacy. The judge will decide that at the sentencing Jan. 15.
If diversion is deemed appropriate, Stacy said Ream's sentence will be diverted for five years, during which he has to show he can adhere to certain terms.
Those conditions include not owning any chemicals or storing chemicals in a way that is accessible to animals, not possessing any handguns or firearms, and allowing law enforcement officers to search his property at any time.
If diversion is approved and Ream complies with those terms, the charges would be dismissed after five years, Stacy said. If not approved, Ream will be sentenced.
Ream originally faced 11 counts, several of which were misdemeanors that were dismissed before trial because they fell outside the 12-month filing period.
Stacy said he argued against the dismissal because the charges spoke to a pattern in Ream's behavior, but the judge disagreed.
When news of Ream's case broke, County Attorney Vicki Hayden called it an "emotional issue" for the community, saying there had been much public outcry, particularly because Ream was cited rather than arrested. His not being arrested, however, did not lessen the seriousness of the crimes, she added.
Ream was originally cited 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.
After court Friday, Stacy said he made the deal with the victims' approval.
"I wouldn't have done so without their agreement," he said. "No matter what we did, that's not going to bring back those animals to their owners ... but it does bring some closure."
Contact Kat Russell, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.
