Municipal Court of Malibu Judicial District
No. SA 025054
Charged
6 counts felony animal cruelty
2 counts witness intimidation (by force or threat)
Bench trial – June 1997
Judge found Tom Valter Guilty
4 counts felony animal cruelty
According to court documents, “the defendant intentionally progressed from beating Zoolog with a regular dressage whip to the use of a whip with a tack, a whip with a nail, and then to a harsh bit and a cattle prod. He used these devices in order to break the horse’s resistance, and ultimately, his spirit. We may never know whether Zoolog resisted doing what his rider required due to pain, fear, or a disposition soured by competition.”
Sentence
5 years probation
$5,000 fine
Must develop non-violent training methods
