Animal cruelty: Crown wants Tony Barrett sent to jail
A Burin Peninsula farmer convicted of letting some of his animals starve to death should go to jail, a Crown attorney told a court in Grand Bank Wednesday.
During a sentencing hearing for Tony Barrett, his lawyer, Marcus Evans, described that suggestion as "incredible" and said his client should serve his time at home.
Crown prosecutor Allison Manning wants Barrett sentenced to a year in jail, given a lifetime ban on owning animals, and ordered to pay part of the $58,000 spent on taking care of the surviving animals.
Evans scoffed at the suggestion of jail time, asserting that Manning was using the case to prove a political point due to the media attention it has been receiving.
Barrett isn't a danger to the community, said Evans, and that he should receive a conditional sentence.
Evans also pleaded with the court to go easy on Barrett when it comes to a possible fine, as he on a disability pension and wouldn't be able to afford to pay. He did agree that a lifetime ban on owning animals was appropriate.
Sentencing scheduled for March 25
Judge Harold Porter suggested that it might make sense to order Barrett to sell his farm to pay the bill.
Barrett spoke up and said he only owns a portion of the farm. His father owns most of the land and he only owns the piece of property his house is on, and that involves a mortgage.
The case relates to two separate incidents in January 2014, when frozen animals were found at Barrett's property in Winterland.
Barrett admitted to investigators he never planned to spend much money on the animals because he planned on killing them. He also said he wanted to get out of farming because of the costs and heavy workload.
Barrett will be sentenced on March 25.
