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Arcata rancher Ray Christie, whose first trial ended with the jury deadlocked 11-1 for guilt, is scheduled for a second trial in May.
This morning Judge Christopher Wilson set a May 4 trial for Christie, who is charged with four felony counts of animal cruelty. The charges relate to dead or dying cattle found on property Christie owned or leased.
Deputy District Attorney Adrian Kamada, the trial prosecutor, said Christie will not be tried again on several misdemeanor counts of dumping cow carcasses within 150 feet of state waters. Jurors in the first trial convicted Christie of more than two dozen misdemeanor counts, acquitting him on three and hanging up on several more.
Christie was arrested and charged after a multi-agency raid on his properties. Dozens of cattle carcasses were found in or near state waters, including a massive pile of rotting carcasses at his ranch on the Arcata Bottoms. Officers also found animals that appeared to be dying from starvation and had no access to food or water.
This morning local attorney Ken Bareilles appeared in court with Christie, standing in for his Southern California attorney John Cogorno. Cogorno, the trial lawyer, plans to file a motion asking for the felony charges to be dismissed.
Wilson granted a defense motion to delay the trial until May, as Cogorno is waiting for trial transcripts so he can file the motion to dismiss.
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PREVIOUSLY:
- ‘Nothing But a Show’ Rancher Ray Christie’s Attorney Says After Jury Shown Images of Numerous Dead or Dying Cows
- CHRISTIE TRIAL: Defense Attorney Attacks Investigating Deputy’s Credibility
- CHRISTIE TRIAL: Prosecutors Allege Rancher Illegally Removed Tags From Cattle to Pass Them Off as ‘Organic’
- CHRISTIE TRIAL: While Witnesses Testify to Stacks and Stacks of Carcasses Found, Defense Wonders Whether Cattle May Have Been Killed by Wild Animals or Poisonous Plants
- CHRISTIE TRIAL: Wildlife Warden Testifies to Carcasses Floating in Sloughs as Defense Gets Ready to Make its Case
- CHRISTIE TRIAL: After Showing Jurors Some Drone Footage, the Defense Rests its Case
- CHRISTIE TRIAL: Prosecution Rests; Ranch Hand Testifies He Was Ordered to Remove Cow Eartags
- CHRISTIE TRIAL: In Closing Arguments, Prosecutor Implores Jury to Hold Defendant Accountable for ‘Grossly Inadequate’ Management of Ranches
- CHRISTIE TRIAL: After the Defense’s Two-Hour Closing Argument, the Case is in the Hands of the Jury
- Juror Replaced in Christie Trial; Deliberation to Continue Into Next Week
- CHRISTIE TRIAL: Misconduct or Mistrial? One Juror Refuses to Deliberate or Follow the Law, Other Members Tell Judge; Unknown Whether a Mistrial Will be Declared or Possible Rogue Juror Replaced
- CHRISTIE TRIAL: Jurors Scheduled to Return to Deliberations Tomorrow Morning
- CHRISTIE TRIAL: Judge Dismisses Apparently Rogue Juror; Deliberations to Start All Over Again With Alternate
- CHRISTIE TRIAL: Hung Jury Declared After One Juror Out of 12 Declines to Convict Accused Rancher