Trial set on animal torture charges
By Kat Russell, Reporter
The Paducah Sun
July 18, 2015
http://www.paducahsun.com/news/local/071815_PS_Animal_Torture
WICKLIFFE - A trial date has been set in the animal torture case against a Barlow man accused of poisoning several area dogs and cats with meat soaked in antifreeze.
Edward Ream, 67, was indicted March 11 on three counts of torture of a dog or cat, two counts of attempted torture of a dog or cat, two counts of first-degree criminal mischief, and four counts of second-degree criminal mischief.
The charges stem from incidents that allegedly took place between 1999 and 2009 involving five dogs and one cat belonging nearby residents in the area of Ream's North Adkins Road home.
On July 1, Ream was indicted a second time on a fourth count of torture of a dog or cat and a fifth count of second-degree criminal mischief after another complaint surfaced that he had allegedly poisoned a neighbor's dog and cat in September 2014.
On Friday, Ballard Circuit Judge Tim Langford scheduled a trial for Nov. 23 and 24 to address and resolve both indictments.
The case against Ream was opened in February after a Ballard animal control officer, James Campbell, received an anonymous tip from one of Ream's neighbors.
The tipster told Campbell that he had gone to Ream's house to drop off mail that had been mistakenly delivered to him and, while there, he noticed a container of meat soaking in antifreeze.
Animal control then got a warrant and searched Ream's property on Feb. 6 where they allegedly found four containers of meat soaking in what they believed to be antifreeze, as well as a half-empty gallon of the chemical.
Campbell said at a hearing May 8 that while he was searching the property Ream came out on the back porch where a container of soaking meat was located and said, "There it is. I'm tired of those dogs (peeing) on my back porch."
Also addressed Friday was the issue of Ream's curfew, which was set in March as one of the conditions of his bond.
Ream's curfew stipulates that he is not allowed to leave his home between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Ream said the curfew was interfering with his ability to participate in family activities and also cut into his fishing time.
The judge agreed to modify the curfew stating Ream was required to remain at home between 10 p.m. and 4:30 a.m. until the charges against him were resolved.
The second condition of Ream's bond states he is not allowed to possess antifreeze outside of his vehicle.
Contact Kat Russell, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.
Edward Ream, 67, was indicted March 11 on three counts of torture of a dog or cat, two counts of attempted torture of a dog or cat, two counts of first-degree criminal mischief, and four counts of second-degree criminal mischief.
The charges stem from incidents that allegedly took place between 1999 and 2009 involving five dogs and one cat belonging nearby residents in the area of Ream's North Adkins Road home.
On July 1, Ream was indicted a second time on a fourth count of torture of a dog or cat and a fifth count of second-degree criminal mischief after another complaint surfaced that he had allegedly poisoned a neighbor's dog and cat in September 2014.
On Friday, Ballard Circuit Judge Tim Langford scheduled a trial for Nov. 23 and 24 to address and resolve both indictments.
The case against Ream was opened in February after a Ballard animal control officer, James Campbell, received an anonymous tip from one of Ream's neighbors.
The tipster told Campbell that he had gone to Ream's house to drop off mail that had been mistakenly delivered to him and, while there, he noticed a container of meat soaking in antifreeze.
Animal control then got a warrant and searched Ream's property on Feb. 6 where they allegedly found four containers of meat soaking in what they believed to be antifreeze, as well as a half-empty gallon of the chemical.
Campbell said at a hearing May 8 that while he was searching the property Ream came out on the back porch where a container of soaking meat was located and said, "There it is. I'm tired of those dogs (peeing) on my back porch."
Also addressed Friday was the issue of Ream's curfew, which was set in March as one of the conditions of his bond.
Ream's curfew stipulates that he is not allowed to leave his home between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Ream said the curfew was interfering with his ability to participate in family activities and also cut into his fishing time.
The judge agreed to modify the curfew stating Ream was required to remain at home between 10 p.m. and 4:30 a.m. until the charges against him were resolved.
The second condition of Ream's bond states he is not allowed to possess antifreeze outside of his vehicle.
Contact Kat Russell, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.
