Judge finds father-son farmers not guilty on all counts in 'cruelty' case

By Mark Gilger (Staff Writer mark_g@newsitem.com)
Published: March 19, 2010

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SUNBURY - The father-and-son farmers charged in a private criminal complaint with animal cruelty for treatment of cows on their Irish Valley farm have been found not guilty on all counts.

Magisterial District Judge Robert Bolton issued his ruling Friday morning.

Bolton, who heard five hours of testimony at a preliminary hearing Thursday morning, said there were no time elements listed on the video footage that accuser Jeannette K. Aderhold provided as evidence, and that, in combination, there was no evidence of what happened to the animals afterward.

Bolton said he also put considerable stake in the testimony of a veterinarian who has worked at the farm of Lloyd Reitz Sr. and Andy Reitz for 37 years, who said he never witnessed any neglect. Bolton noted that a veterinarian who testified for the prosecution never visited the farm.

Further details on Bolton's ruling in Saturday's print edition of The News-Item.

Lloyd Reitz was charged with 14 counts of animal cruelty and his son seven counts. They would have faced up to 90 days in prison and fines between $50 and $750.

At Thursday's hearing, defense attorney Roger Wiest II of Sunbury repeatedly claimed Aderhold, of Snydertown Road, Danville RD 6, a former worker at the farm lied during her two-hour testimony and violated a wire-tapping law by videotaping injured cows and calves and unsanitary conditions at the farm without permission from the Reitz family.

Wiest also pointed out that the prosecution's chief witness was convicted of a felony offense for robbing a bank in Perry County 31 years ago that resulted in a sentence of 1 1/2 to 3 years, and never informed the Reitzes that she was a convicted felon. He also said Aderhold has used an alias over the years.

The defense lawyer said Aderhold quit working at the dairy farm on Sept. 10, 2009, but claimed in an unemployment compensation application that she was terminated from her position.

Wiest made several motions during the legal proceeding to have all the charges dismissed against his clients due to lack of evidence and failure by the prosecution to officially identify Lloyd and Andy Reitz as the defendants in the case. But Bolton rejected the motions and allowed the hearing to continue.

Special prosecutor Steve Winning of Philadelphia said numerous graphic videos and photographs displayed at the hearing clearly revealed negligence and animal abuse at the farm, and claimed no attempts were made by the Reitzes to improve unsanitary conditions at the farm after Aderhold brought them to their attention.

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2 posted comments

Unfortunately, corrupt judges aid and abet criminals in their endeavors.

And also help them to taint our food supply with sick animals.

Bolton cannot handle upholding the laws.

He cannot handle being a judge.

Report
Robert,  03/19/10 9:01
I applaud Judge Bolton's decision. This wanton waste of people's time and money is evidence of the ridiculous views of PETA and those who hold their views. Being a businessman the farmer goes out of his way to provide care for the animals that provide his livelihood and huge investment. Any suggestion to the contrary is ludicrous.
Report
JD Hallman,  03/19/10 4:12