Former Cop Sentenced For Cruelty To Horses

GOSHEN, NY — A former police officer who was found guilty of animal cruelty will be going to jail. Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler said Thursday that Jeanne Ryan, 52, of Goshen, was sentenced to multiple concurrent sentences of two years in the Orange County Jail in connection with the deaths of nine horses and the mistreatment of a tenth horse, which survived.

Ryan, who retired from the police force on a disability pension, was found guilty July 24 after a bench trial of 10 felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals. She was also convicted of 10 misdemeanor counts of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals, for underfeeding them.

Ryan was sent to the Orange County Jail after her conviction.

Hoovler explained the sentencing process by saying that the maximum sentence the law allows for aggravated cruelty to animals is two years in jail. For overdriving, torturing and injuring animals, it's one year in jail.

Under state law, a defendant can serve no more than two years in jail.

On Sept. 6, prosecutors recommended that Ryan be sentenced to the maximum sentence for nine of the 10 felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and for all 10 counts of the other charge.

The district attorney recommended that Ryan be sentenced to a conditional discharge on one of the felony counts to help assure that she may not own animals while she make any appeals of the case.

Ryan was sentenced to the maximum of two years in jail on each of the first nine aggravated cruelty to animals charge and one year in jail on each of the 10 counts of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals.

By law, those sentences must run concurrently — at the same time.

The judge also issued an order prohibiting Ryan from owning or being in possession of any animals for 15 years.

Hoovler also recommended that one of the equine rescue societies that took possession of the surviving horse receives restitution for expenses incurred for the care of the starving horse.

A restitution hearing is scheduled for Oct. 2.

Ryan also has to register with the Orange County Animal Abuse Registry, which will prevent her from owning animals in Orange County.

The case against Ryan started with a search warrant executed July 29, 2017, at the barn located at Ryan's residence.

Investigators from the Hudson Valley Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, with the assistance of the Town of Goshen Police Department, found the severely decomposed remains of five horses, as well as a severely emaciated, though still alive, horse.

Ryan was issued an appearance ticket to the Town of Goshen Court for one misdemeanor animal cruelty charge.

A second search warrant found her cellphone on which were messages between Ryan and her son pertaining to the care of the horses that were introduced into evidence at the trial.

A grand jury issued a 20-count indictment, alleging that between March 1, 2016, and July 29, 2017, Ryan subjected 10 horses to aggravated cruelty, which is defined as conduct that either caused the horses extreme physical pain or was carried out in an especially depraved or sadistic manner.

Hoovler said that, in his opinion, the current law doesn't provide for adequate punishment for aggravated cruelty to animals such as in Ryan's case.

"As a society, we cannot tolerate the mistreatment of horses or other companion animals, which cannot protect themselves," he said.

"Animals abuse cases are a high priority in my office and we will continue to work with the SPCA and our other law enforcement partners to protect animals from neglect and abuse," Hoovler said.

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