BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - A Billings livestock breeder is asking the Montana Supreme Court to overturn his conviction on five counts of animal cruelty over the deaths of five horses.
The Billings Gazette reports (https://tinyurl.com/lt2mfsn ) James Leachman filed his appeal Monday, saying prosecutors didn’t prove he owned the horses.
A Justice Court jury convicted Leachman in 2012, and he was sentenced to five years in jail with all but 120 days suspended. He was also fined $500 and prohibited from owning cattle or horses for five years.
A Yellowstone County district judge upheld the conviction last year.
Prosecutors said at least five horses died because of unbreakable plastic bands placed on their legs.
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Information from: The Billings Gazette, https://www.billingsgazette.com
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