SIGN: Justice for Goats Tortured to Death with Machete and Spiked Bats

PETITION CLOSED

PETITION TARGET: Spotsylvania County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office

UPDATE (5/3/2021): Four suspects charged with animal cruelty for torturing and killing two goats with a machete and spiked bats have been convicted by trial in Spotsylvania’s criminal county court.

Halie Morgan received 12 months jail time for being found guilty of causing or permitting animal cruelty. Co-conspirators Charles McKinney, Donald Compton Jr., and Andrew Haefele were each found guilty of two counts of maiming an animal and conspiring to maim an animal.

A deputy clerk with Spotsylvania County Circuit Court provided the following sentencing information for the men:

• Andrew Haefele will serve an active sentence of two years and 18 months to serve for the following: two counts of maiming an animal (each of which carry a 5-year sentence, with 4-years suspended); two counts of conspiring to maim an animal (each of which carry a 3-year sentence, with two years and six months suspended), claiming a false identity to law enforcement (12 months, with 12 months suspended), and two counts of possessing a controlled substance (each of which carry a one year sentence, with nine months suspended)
• Donald Compton will serve an active sentence of five years and 12 months to serve for the following: two counts of maiming an animal (each of which carry a 5-year sentence, with 4-years suspended); two counts of conspiring to maim an animal (each of which carry a 3-year sentence, with two years and six months suspended), and possessing a firearm by a convicted felon (two year mandatory minimum)
• Charles McKinney will serve an active sentence of two years and 12 months to serve for the following: two counts of maiming an animal (each of which carry a 5-year sentence, with 4-years suspended); two counts of conspiring to maim an animal (each of which carry a 3-year sentence, with two years and six months suspended)

The men’s suspended sentences are conditioned upon good behavior for 20 years from the date of sentencing, active supervised probation, payment of court costs, completing a psychological evaluation and a substance abuse program, being barred from the subdivision in Spotsylvania County, and a ban on having any other animals for 20 years from the date of sentencing.

We are grateful that the Spotsylvania’s criminal court cracked down and convicted these individuals for animal cruelty, including the ban on having animals for at least 20 years. We hope these innocent goats killed so brutally have now found peace.

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UPDATE (1/12/21): On January 6, Halie Morgan pleaded guilty to causing animal cruelty and was sentenced to one year in jail. Andrew Haefele, Donald Compton, and Charles McKinney are all scheduled to be sentenced on April 20, 2021.

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Two defenseless goats suffered a slow and brutal death for over 20 minutes, as four people tortured and killed them with spiked bats and an apparent machete in Spotsylvania County, Va., according to local authorities.

Video evidence shows one attacker, Halie Morgan, urging her large dogs to attack the goats, while another attacker, Charles E. McKinney, slits one of the dying animal’s throats, according to NBC12 Richmond.

Authorities arrested and charged Morgan and McKinney, along with Andrew Haefele Donald Compton, in connection with this case. Among them, the charges involve maiming an animal, conspiracy to maim an animal, animal cruelty, and giving false information to law enforcement, according to WJLA.

This brutal slaughter must not be tolerated, and the perpetrators must never be given the opportunity to harm another innocent creature.

Sign this petition urging the Spotsylvania County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office to prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law, including a psychological intervention and a lifelong ban on having animals.

This is an ongoing investigation. Authorities ask anyone with additional information regarding this case to call 1-800-928-5822 or 1-540-582-5822.