Orange County Animal Cruelty Case
No. 00785-2017
October 30, 2017
Orange County Grand Jury Indicts Jeanne Ryan
THE GRAND JURY OF THE COUNTY OF ORANGE, by this Indictment, accuses the defendant of the crime of AGGRAVATED CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, in violation of the provisions of Section 353-a, Subdivision 1, of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York, committed as follows:
The said defendant, on or about and between the 1st day of March, 2017, and the 29th day of July, 2017, in the County of Orange, State of New York, with no justifiable purpose, did intentionally kill or cause serious physical injury to a companion animal, to wit: a horse, with aggravated cruelty.
SECOND COUNT
AND THE GRAND JURY AFORESAID, by this Indictment, further accuses the defendant, of the crime of
AGGRAVATED CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, in violation of the provisions of Section 353-a, Subdivision 1, of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York, committed as follows:
The said defendant, on or about and between the 1st day of March, 2017, and the 29th day of July, 2017, in the County of Orange, State of New York, with no justifiable purpose, did intentionally kill or cause serious physical injury to a companion animal, to wit: a horse, with aggravated cruelty.
THIRD COUNT
AND THE GRAND JURY AFORESAID, by this Indictment, further accuses the defendant, of the crime of
AGGRAVATED CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, in violation of the provisions of Section 353-a, Subdivision 1, of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York, committed as follows:
The said defendant, on or about and between the 1st day of March, 2017, and the 29th day of July, 2017,in the County of Orange, State of New York, with no justifiable purpose, did intentionally kill or cause serious physical injury to a companion animal, to wit: a horse, with aggravated cruelty.
FOURTH COUNT
AND THE GRAND JURY AFORESAID, by this Indictment, further accuses the defendant, of the crime of
AGGRAVATED CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, in violation of the provisions of Section 353-a, Subdivision 1, of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York, committed as follows:
The said defendant, on or about and between the 1st day of March, 2017, and the 29th day of July, 2017, in the County of Orange, State of New York, with no justifiable purpose, did intentionally kill or cause serious physical injury to a companion animal, to wit: a horse, with aggravated cruelty.
FIFTH COUNT
AND THE GRAND JURY AFORESAID, by this Indictment, further accuses the defendant, of the crime of
AGGRAVATED CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, in violation of the provisions of Section 353-a, Subdivision 1, of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York, committed as follows:
The said defendant, on or about and between the 1st day of March, 2017, and the 29th day of July, 2017, in the County of Orange, State of New York, with no justifiable purpose, did intentionally kill or cause serious physical injury to a companion animal, to wit: a horse, with aggravated cruelty.
SIXTH COUNT
AND THE GRAND JURY AFORESAID, by this Indictment, further accuses the defendant, of the crime of
AGGRAVATED CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, in violation of the provisions of Section 353-a, Subdivision 1, of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York, committed as follows:
The said defendant, on or about and between the 1st day of March, 2017, and the 29th day of July, 2017, in the County of Orange, State of New York, with no justifiable purpose, did intentionally kill or cause serious physical injury to a companion animal, to wit: a horse, with aggravated cruelty.
SEVENTH COUNT
AND THE GRAND JURY AFORESAID, by this Indictment, further accuses the defendant, of the crime of
AGGRAVATED CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, in violation of the provisions of Section 353-a, Subdivision 1, of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York, committed as follows:
The said defendant, on or about and between the 1st day of March, 2016, and the 1st day of March, 2017, in the County of Orange, State of New York, with no justifiable purpose, did intentionally kill or cause serious physical injury to a companion animal, to wit: a horse, with aggravated cruelty.
EIGHTH COUNT
AND THE GRAND JURY AFORESAID, by this Indictment, further accuses the defendant, of the crime of
AGGRAVATED CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, in violation of the provisions of Section 353-a, Subdivision 1, of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York, committed as follows:
The said defendant, on or about and between the 1st day of March, 2016, and the 1st day of March, 2017, in the County of Orange, State of New York, with no justifiable purpose, did intentionally kill or cause serious physical injury to a companion animal, to wit: a horse, with aggravated cruelty.
NINTH COUNT
AND THE GRAND JURY AFORESAID, by this Indictment, further accuses the defendant, of the crime of
AGGRAVATED CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, in violation of the provisions of Section 353-a, Subdivision 1, of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York, committed as follows:
The said defendant, on or about and between the 1st day of March, 2016, and the 1st day of March, 2017, in the County of Orange, State of New York, with no justifiable purpose, did intentionally kill or cause serious physical injury to a companion animal, to wit: a horse, with aggravated cruelty.
TENTH COUNT
AND THE GRAND JURY AFORESAID, by this Indictment, further accuses the defendant, of the crime of
AGGRAVATED CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, in violation of the provisions of Section 353-a, Subdivision 1, of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York, committed as follows:
The said defendant, on or about and between the 1st day of March, 2016, and the 1st day of March, 2017, in the County of Orange, State of New York, with no justifiable purpose, did intentionally kill or cause serious physical injury to a companion animal, to wit: a horse, with aggravated cruelty.
ELEVENTH COUNT
AND THE GRAND JURY AFORESAID, by this Indictment, further accuses the defendant, of the crime of OVERDRIVING, TORTURING AND INJURING ANIMALS, in violation of the provisions of Section 353 of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York, committed as follows:
The said defendant, on or about and between the 1st day of March, 2017, and the 29th day of July, 2017, in the County of Orange, State of New York, did unjustifiably injure, maim, mutilate, or kill an animal, or did deprive an animal of necessary sustenance, food or drink, or caused or permitted an animal to be deprived of necessary food or drink or did further an act of cruelty to an animal, to wit: a horse, or did further such an act of cruelty.
TWELFTH COUNT
AND THE GRAND JURY AFORESAID, by this Indictment, further accuses the defendant, of the crime of OVERDRIVING, TORTURING AND INJURING ANIMALS, in violation of the provisions of Section 353 of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York, committed as follows:
The said defendant, on or about and between the 1st day of March, 2017, and the 29th day of July, 2017, in the County of Orange, State of New York, did unjustifiably injure, maim, mutilate, or kill an animal, or did deprive an animal of necessary sustenance, food or drink, or caused or permitted an animal to be deprived of necessary food or drink or did further an act of cruelty to an animal, to wit: a horse, or did further such an act of cruelty.
THIRTEEN COUNT
AND THE GRAND JURY AFORESAID, by this Indictment, further accuses the defendant, of the crime of OVERDRIVING, TORTURING AND INJURING ANIMALS, in violation of the provisions of Section 353 of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York, committed as follows:
The said defendant, on or about and between the 1st day of March, 2017, and the 29th day of July, 2017, in the County of Orange, State of New York, did unjustifiably injure, maim, mutilate, or kill an animal, or did deprive an animal of necessary sustenance, food or drink, or caused or permitted an animal to be deprived of necessary food or drink or did further an act of cruelty to an animal, to wit: a horse, or did further such an act of cruelty.
FOURTEENTH COUNT
AND THE GRAND JURY AFORESAID, by this Indictment, further accuses the defendant, of the crime of OVERDRIVING, TORTURING AND INJURING ANIMALS, in violation of the provisions of Section 353 of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York, committed as follows:
The said defendant, on or about and between the 1st day of March, 2017, and the 29th day of July, 2017, in the County of Orange, State of New York, did unjustifiably injure, maim, mutilate, or kill an animal, or did deprive an animal of necessary sustenance, food or drink, or caused or permitted an animal to be deprived of necessary food or drink or did further an act of cruelty to an animal, to wit: a horse, or did further such an act of cruelty.
FIFTEENTH COUNT
AND THE GRAND JURY AFORESAID, by this Indictment, further accuses the defendant, of the crime of OVERDRIVING, TORTURING AND INJURING ANIMALS, in violation of the provisions of Section 353 of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York, committed as follows:
The said defendant, on or about and between the 1st day of March, 2017, and the 29th day of July, 2017, in the County of Orange, State of New York, did unjustifiably injure, maim, mutilate, or kill an animal, or did deprive an animal of necessary sustenance, food or drink, or caused or permitted an animal to be deprived of necessary food or drink or did further an act of cruelty to an animal, to wit: a horse, or did further such an act of cruelty.
SIXTEENTH COUNT
AND THE GRAND JURY AFORESAID, by this Indictment, further accuses the defendant, of the crime of OVERDRIVING, TORTURING AND INJURING ANIMALS, in violation of the provisions of Section 353 of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York, committed as follows:
The said defendant, on or about and between the 1st day of March, 2017, and the 29th day of July, 2017, in the County of Orange, State of New York, did unjustifiably injure, maim, mutilate, or kill an animal, or did deprive an animal of necessary sustenance, food or drink, or caused or permitted an animal to be deprived of necessary food or drink or did further an act of cruelty to an animal, to wit: a horse, or did further such an act of cruelty.
SEVENTEENTH COUNT
AND THE GRAND JURY AFORESAID, by this Indictment, further accuses the defendant, of the crime of OVERDRIVING, TORTURING AND INJURING ANIMALS, in violation of the provisions of Section 353 of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York, committed as follows:
The said defendant, on or about and between the 1st day of March, 2016, and the 1st day of March, 2017, in the County of Orange, State of New York, did unjustifiably injure, maim, mutilate, or kill an animal, or did deprive an animal of necessary sustenance, food or drink, or caused or permitted an animal to be deprived of necessary food or drink or did further an act of cruelty to an animal, to wit: a horse, or did further such an act of cruelty.
EIGHTEENTH COUNT
AND THE GRAND JURY AFORESAID, by this Indictment, further accuses the defendant, of the crime of OVERDRIVING, TORTURING AND INJURING ANIMALS, in violation of the provisions of Section 353 of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York, committed as follows:
The said defendant, on or about and between the 1st day of March, 2016, and the 1st day of March, 2017, in the County of Orange, State of New York, did unjustifiably injure, maim, mutilate, or kill an animal, or did deprive an animal of necessary sustenance, food or drink, or caused or permitted an animal to be deprived of necessary food or drink or did further an act of cruelty to an animal, to wit: a horse, or did further such an act of cruelty.
NINETEENTH COUNT
AND THE GRAND JURY AFORESAID, by this Indictment, further accuses the defendant, of the crime of OVERDRIVING, TORTURING AND INJURING ANIMALS, in violation of the provisions of Section 353 of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York, committed as follows:
The said defendant, on or about and between the 1st day of March, 2016, and the 1st day of March, 2017, in the County of Orange, State of New York, did unjustifiably injure, maim, mutilate, or kill an animal, or did deprive an animal of necessary sustenance, food or drink, or caused or permitted an animal to be deprived of necessary food or drink or did further an act of cruelty to an animal, to wit: a horse, or did further such an act of cruelty.
TWENTIETH COUNT
AND THE GRAND JURY AFORESAID, by this Indictment, further accuses the defendant, of the crime of OVERDRIVING, TORTURING AND INJURING ANIMALS, in violation of the provisions of Section 353 of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York, committed as follows:
The said defendant, on or about and between the 1st day of March, 2016, and the 1st day of March, 2017, in the County of Orange, State of New York, did unjustifiably injure, maim, mutilate, or kill an animal, or did deprive an animal of necessary sustenance, food or drink, or caused or permitted an animal to be deprived of necessary food or drink or did further an act of cruelty to an animal, to wit: a horse, or did further such an act of cruelty.
View Indictment
November 8, 2017
Entered not guilty plea at arraignment
May 7, 2018 Bench trial begins
June 5, 2018 Bench trial resumes
June 6-8, 2018 No trial due to Judge’s unavailability
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
Judge finds Jeanne Ryan of Argus Farm Guilty
20 counts of animal cruelty, includes 10 felonies

Sentencing scheduled for September 6, 2018
The judge immediately remanded her to jail until sentencing
In accordance with Rocky’s Law, Jeanne Ryan surrendered her remaining animals. The law bans Ryan from any horse ownership in the state of NY.
Sentence
Two years in jail (the maximum time allowed for her crimes)
Placed on Orange County, NY animal abuser registry
NO ANIMAL OWNERSHIP for 15 Years
Must pay restitution for rehab of pony
Orange County released Jeanne Ryan from jail on November 20, 2019.
Jeanne Ryan remains on the Orange County, New York Animal Abuser Registry and cannot own any animals for 15 years.
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