Upset at Sentencing in Thunder the Wonder Dog Trial, Mendocino DA Says Judge Will No Longer Hear Cases Involving Animal Cruelty and/or Cases With A Sentencing Enhancement Alleged Relating To The Personal Use Of A Firearm
Left: Thunder on the day he was found.
Right: Thunder, handsome and healthy [Photos courtesy of Davina Liberty]
Below is the full press release from the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office:
Mendocino County District Attorney David Eyster announced Monday that effective immediately he has directed all deputy prosecutors to file peremptory challenges to disqualify and prevent Superior Court Judge Clayton Brennan from hearing any pending criminal case or future cases that will be filed in which a defendant is charged with animal cruelty.
Likewise, the DA has also directed his deputy prosecutors to file peremptory challenges to disqualify and prevent Judge Brennan from hearing any criminal case in which the DA has alleged that the defendant personally used a firearm in the commission of a felony.
California jurisprudence and statutory law allows District Attorneys to refuse to accept a judge on a particular case or certain types of cases if it is believed that the judge is “so biased against the People that he or she cannot be entrusted with the fair administration of justice,” Eyster said.
In issuing his directive, the DA continued, “The judge currently sitting in the Ten Mile Court in Fort Bragg has betrayed community standards and community trust. He has made it abundantly clear that he has no use for, does not value, and is biased against law enforcement and the community’s ongoing efforts to seek justice against those who victimize animals and use firearms to commit felonies.
“Accordingly, I deem him legally unfit to sit as a judge on the types of criminal cases described above,” said Eyster.
When asked if the peremptory challenges to Judge Brennan will occur only in cases involving animal cruelty or cases where it has been charged that the defendant has personally used a firearm, Eyster said the question of the scope and definition of cases for which Judge Brennan will be disqualified remains an open question being evaluated by the DA and his senior attorneys.
Earlier Chapters:
- Thunder’s Former Owner Enters 11th Hour Plea
- Mendocino District Attorney’s Office Expresses Disapproval of Judge’s Sentencing of Woman Who Shot Thunder the Wonder Dog
- Thunder the Wonder Dog’s Rescuer and New Owner Consider Abuser’s Punishment a “Slap on the Wrist”, Banking on the Appeal for Justice
Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules
Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/
A healthy prison sentence seems a little tame for the torture Thunder endured from his owner. That it was reduced is a travesty. I hope part of her sentence is she will never be allowed pets of any kind again, and probation revoked if found otherwise. Kudos to Judge Brennan, and I hope that keener eyes will be looking towards the DA’s office.
Your comment makes no sense. Why kudos to the judge who reduced the charge and gave a slap on the wrist sentence? The DA didn’t do that – the judge did! A little late to say what you hope the sentence was – she’s already been sentenced to just community service. Kudos to the DA for watching out for animals and the public and disqualifying a poor judge.
Law and order. Kathy’s comment is partially Sarcasm. You can notice that by reading the first half of the paragraph.
Sassyfrass67, Law and Order wasn’t responding to Kathy’s comment, but to Redwoodfive’s, who seemed to be commending the judge, and calling out the DA for the sentence reduction.
Yes!! That sentence was a slap in the face to those who are enforcing animal abuse laws and EVEY person globally that is horrified by such behavior. That judge needs to never hear another case on any abuse case (animal or human). He should never be re-elected. A total travesty of our system, which I have a high regard for in most circumstances
I agree with what you have stated.
Kudo’s to the judge that completely ignored the facts and severity of the crimes committed against an innocent animal???♀️??♀️??♀️
No he didn’t impose any real punishment for her. She can still own pets and can still use a gun. He even went as far as suggesting that she completes her community service hours at animal shelters. I’m happy that the DA is looking to undo what this poor excuse for a judge did and hope that they vote him out ASAP!
Are you serious? The judge is going to allow her to be around other innocent animals
If this is true then he should be personally held accountable for anything this sick bitch does. Cause it will be his fault cause he had the power to enforce the law that she never own another animal or a firearm and he instead gave her the green light to have the freedom to do this to another innocent animal
Who knows maybe she will do it to a child or an elderly person it’s obvious that she enjoys harming defenseless living breathing beings
I agree with you completely seriously what bothers me is how come so many folks think that a dog has no feelings? It makes me so angry when I hear of someone being cruel to an innocent animal.
This judge is heartless why would think that this woman is allowed to use a firearm to shoot a dog and only get probation clearly means that this judge is not qualified to be a judge in any violent criminal case. This woman took a gun and put it in her hands and looked at this beautiful innocent dog and she shot it. That is a very sick mind and she should be sent to state prison so the other women in prison can give her a good ass whooping for what she did. I’m so angry at the judge right now that it’s hard to type right now. So pardon me for sounding a bit hysterical but I see and hear about this kind of shit so much and it’s just wrong! SHAME ON THIS JUDGE HE IS NOT A GOOD PERSON!
UNBEILABLE!!!!!! Hope he Never EVER GETS RE-ELECTED. WHAT A POOR EXCUSE OF A JUDGE !!!!!!!
I totally lost faith in the judicial system during the O.J. Simson trial. I saw so many mistakes and theatrics that it made me wonder how the heck anyone could reach a correct verdict. Anyone who has ever gotten a leather glove wet knows that it will shrink two size. “if it doesn’t fit, you gotta’ acquit.” Bulls..t.
Not saying whether O. J. was guilty or not. However, there were witnesses that lied, chains of evidence broken, tainted blood evidence, etc.
Don’t even get me started on politics.
I am firmly convinced that there are few people in ANY profession that are true professionals anymore.
Thank you! She really needs to suffer like she made Thunder suffer! She needs to be sentenced and not allowed to even be around any animals! This is a step in the right direction though!
I am not one for violence but animal abusers are an exception. I say a shot to the abusers knee cap would be fair punishment.
If you have had a dog for six years since he was a pup then he bites your two year old son in the face What are you gonna do? Put him up for adoption so he can maim another child
This just happened to a friend of mine and he asked me for advice. Please help
Tough love #1: You owe it to the child to put that dog asleep…unless you want to see if happens again?
Also, get involved 2012 to replace this one:
Brennan ran for re-election to the superior court in 2012. As an unopposed incumbent, his name did not appear on the ballot. After the primary election, Brennan was automatically re-elected.[
Marilyn, Do you know how long Brennan’s term is? We should start planning ahead. And also, aren’t there other cases where he showed poor judgment?
Get the dog to somebody that doesn’t have kids! And let them know what happened. Many of us have little to zero children around. Small children can be torturous and very scary to an otherwise good dog…just set it up so this dog doesn’t see children.
So this judge is incapable of hearing certain cases? How’s about reducing his pay then?! Oh- they never do that….bunch of professional parasites all government workers. Let’s recall him. Throw Judge Brennan out in his ear and strip his pension. He lives better than all of us and is untouchable. We have recreated the same system of privileged aristocracy that this country was originally formed in rebellion to…kick him out!
Thank you David Easter!
⚖⚖⚖⚖⚖⚖⚖⚖⚖⚖⚖⚖⚖
There is no justice in the injustice system. It’s irretrievably broken. The decisions are made before anyone even enters the courtroom. Complete bias. The judges in Mendo don’t follow the laws they make their own laws. This has been happening for over 20 years in Mendocino County, maybe even 30 years. Numerous times complaints are raised. No one listens oh there upholding Justice. It results in people dying, losing their property, dogs continually being abused, people becoming homeless because of poor interpretation of real estate law. It goes on and on and on. If you did a satisfaction survey on the resolution of court cases in Mendocino I would highly doubt that there would be very many people that would even give it one star.
??????????????
Absolutely.