Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Two men charged along with disgraced walking horse trainer Jackie McConnell received one-year probation each for their hand in horse abuse.
Joseph Abernathy, 30, and Jeff Dockery, 54, will serve probation and have to write an article on the practice of horse soring - using chemical or mechanical means to alter a horse's gait for advantage in competition.
U.S. District Judge Harry "Sandy" Mattice is asking prosecutors and attorneys for McConnell to explain why he should accept their plea agreement, as it requires him to give McConnell probation and no prison time.
For more see tomorrow's Times Free Press.