The second animal-cruelty trial for Arcata rancher Ray Christie has been postponed until next year because of Christie’s declining health.

Christie, already being treated for basal cell carcinoma, has developed a heart condition most likely caused by a previous undetected heart attack, defense attorney Rick Richmond said outside court this morning.

Judge Gregory Elvine-Kreiss granted the defense motion to continue the trial, which was set to begin in about two weeks. Trial is now scheduled for Jan. 17, with a trial confirmation on Dec. 8.

“Mr. Christie’s deteriorating health condition led us to ask for this continuance,” Richmond said. Both the cancer and the heart problems “have arisen since the county started coming after him.”

Christie, 58, is being treated for both conditions in Los Angeles. He watched the hearing this morning via Zoom, though he did not appear on camera.

“I hope you feel better,” Elvine-Kreiss told Christie this morning.

“Thank you, Your Honor.”

In March 2018 officers from multiple law enforcement agencies raided Christie’s ranch on the Arcata Bottoms, along with many other properties he owns or leases for grazing cattle. Christie’s practice was to buy sub-par cows at the Fortuna Auction, then restore them to health and sell them.

Numerous cow carcasses were found on the properties, along with animals living in poor conditions. In some cases the cows had no access to food or water.

Christie’s first trial ended with him convicted of multiple misdemeanor charges of dumping carcasses near state waters. The jury deadlocked 11-1, with one juror unwilling to convict, on four counts of animal cruelty.

This morning Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees was in court for his office, replacing Deputy District Attorney Steven Steward. Steward recently was elected judge. 

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CORRECTION: Whoops — this story originally misidentified Steward’s opponent in his race for the judgeship. That error, which the Outpost regrets, has been excised.