... also so he could take "care" of his own animals at home.
This guy is truly disgusting (and sad).
If you want to try to watch the animal torture vid - here it is. It's pretty damn extreme, I warn you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYTkM1OHFQg&feature=player_embedded
More here:
http://www.cantonrep.com/newsnow/x289837620/Hidden-video-shows-Ohio-cows-beaten
And the article referred to in my headline:
http://www.dispatch.com/live/conten...010/05/27/gregg-court-appearance.html?sid=101
And an excerpt:
The man accused of brutally beating cows and calves at a Union County dairy farm says he is a wounded Army veteran of the war in Iraq who is about to take his exam to become an Ohio police officer.
Billy Joe Gregg, 25, sat still and listened this morning as Marysville Municipal Court Judge Michael Grigsby detailed the 12 charges of animal cruelty that were filed against Gregg yesterday. Gregg said he has no job and no money, and asked for a court-appointed attorney.
Gregg was the star of a video released late Tuesday by Mercy For Animals, a Chicago-based, animal-rights group that promotes a vegan lifestyle. Mercy sent an undercover employee into Conklin Dairy Farms on Rt. 42 near Plain City and recorded what it says is about 20 hours of tape that shows Conklin employees -- mainly Gregg -- beating cows with crowbars, sticking them with pitchforks, breaking their tails and throwing calves to the ground and stomping their heads.
Only about four minutes of the tape has been shown publicly.
Farm owner Gary Conklin, who is shown on that portion repeatedly kicking a cow himself, fired Gregg at 6 a.m. yesterday. Hours later, Union County sheriff's deputies arrested Gregg and filed the misdemeanor charges against him. He faces a $750 fine and 90 days in jail on each charge.
Sheriff Rocky Nelson said the investigation into Conklin and other employees continues. A search warrant was executed at the farm, which buys, sells and auctions cattle, last night.
Conklin has denounced the treatment of the animals on the video, and said in a written statement that he will immediately retrain all of the farm workers on the proper treatment of animals.
In court this morning, Grigsby set bond at $100,000 and said Gregg must put up $10,000 cash or property to get out of the Tri-County Jail.
Marysville City Prosecutor Tim Aslaner said he asked for the high bond not only because of the violent nature of the charges, but also because Gregg has no apparent ties to the community.
He has lived in Georgia, Utah and Oregon, Aslaner said.
Gregg told the judge he has moved a lot because of a six-year stint in the Army. His military service could not immediately be confirmed.
Gregg asked to be released from jail because he has an upcoming appointment with the Department of Veterans Affairs for his military disability, which he did not identify.
On the tape provided by Mercy For Animals, Gregg can he seen bringing guns into the farm's milkhouse, firing them on the property and talking about stealing M-16s from the U.S. Army while he was stationed in Iraq.
Gregg said in court today that he is scheduled soon to take his Ohio police officer's examination, and needed to be there for that.
"I know these charges are serious, but if I don't take that test I'll be in even more dire financial straits," he told the judge.
He also told the judge he needed to be home to take care of his own animals. Grigsby ordered that, if he is released from jail, he have no contact with animals.
The Associated Press reported today that Conklin Dairy Farms has asked veterinarians to independently review the Mercy For Animals video.
This guy is truly disgusting (and sad).
If you want to try to watch the animal torture vid - here it is. It's pretty damn extreme, I warn you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYTkM1OHFQg&feature=player_embedded
More here:
http://www.cantonrep.com/newsnow/x289837620/Hidden-video-shows-Ohio-cows-beaten
And the article referred to in my headline:
http://www.dispatch.com/live/conten...010/05/27/gregg-court-appearance.html?sid=101
And an excerpt:
The man accused of brutally beating cows and calves at a Union County dairy farm says he is a wounded Army veteran of the war in Iraq who is about to take his exam to become an Ohio police officer.
Billy Joe Gregg, 25, sat still and listened this morning as Marysville Municipal Court Judge Michael Grigsby detailed the 12 charges of animal cruelty that were filed against Gregg yesterday. Gregg said he has no job and no money, and asked for a court-appointed attorney.
Gregg was the star of a video released late Tuesday by Mercy For Animals, a Chicago-based, animal-rights group that promotes a vegan lifestyle. Mercy sent an undercover employee into Conklin Dairy Farms on Rt. 42 near Plain City and recorded what it says is about 20 hours of tape that shows Conklin employees -- mainly Gregg -- beating cows with crowbars, sticking them with pitchforks, breaking their tails and throwing calves to the ground and stomping their heads.
Only about four minutes of the tape has been shown publicly.
Farm owner Gary Conklin, who is shown on that portion repeatedly kicking a cow himself, fired Gregg at 6 a.m. yesterday. Hours later, Union County sheriff's deputies arrested Gregg and filed the misdemeanor charges against him. He faces a $750 fine and 90 days in jail on each charge.
Sheriff Rocky Nelson said the investigation into Conklin and other employees continues. A search warrant was executed at the farm, which buys, sells and auctions cattle, last night.
Conklin has denounced the treatment of the animals on the video, and said in a written statement that he will immediately retrain all of the farm workers on the proper treatment of animals.
In court this morning, Grigsby set bond at $100,000 and said Gregg must put up $10,000 cash or property to get out of the Tri-County Jail.
Marysville City Prosecutor Tim Aslaner said he asked for the high bond not only because of the violent nature of the charges, but also because Gregg has no apparent ties to the community.
He has lived in Georgia, Utah and Oregon, Aslaner said.
Gregg told the judge he has moved a lot because of a six-year stint in the Army. His military service could not immediately be confirmed.
Gregg asked to be released from jail because he has an upcoming appointment with the Department of Veterans Affairs for his military disability, which he did not identify.
On the tape provided by Mercy For Animals, Gregg can he seen bringing guns into the farm's milkhouse, firing them on the property and talking about stealing M-16s from the U.S. Army while he was stationed in Iraq.
Gregg said in court today that he is scheduled soon to take his Ohio police officer's examination, and needed to be there for that.
"I know these charges are serious, but if I don't take that test I'll be in even more dire financial straits," he told the judge.
He also told the judge he needed to be home to take care of his own animals. Grigsby ordered that, if he is released from jail, he have no contact with animals.
The Associated Press reported today that Conklin Dairy Farms has asked veterinarians to independently review the Mercy For Animals video.
