Response to Dr. Susan Ayer Anderson. Lt. Huennekens Court Transcripts
Testimony Susan Eyer-Anderson
Defendant’s Response to Court Transcripts
Page 815
2. Per the Shed World receipt the log cabin was a 8 x 15. The storage room per the receipt was 8 x 5 and the cat area was 8 x 10. There was also a cat door that was installed. Officer Middleton did not provide Susan Eyer-Anderson with correct information.
Page 816
10. The cats were fat and healthy. The cats were not wheezing. The flooring was not covered in fecal matter and urine. It was scattered around the cat litter boxes. The video or photos should have shown the entire room. It was large like a normal size bedroom. The cats were fed and given water. The log cabin was fine the night before unfortunately Craig and Debbie had an early meeting but would be back soon. The previous week Debbie’s mom was sick and required time daily to take care of her. Debbie’s daughter had gone missing. Just vanished and Debbie took hours each day looking for her. Posting Missing Flyers. Driving in areas where she might be. Most parents would drop things and look for their daughter. Miss work. She went missing previously around September 2016 and a very horrible man held her against her will. If it wasn’t for Debbie she wouldn’t have been found. Debbie in her mind could hear her daughter calling for her. Needing help. Sure enough it was true when Debbie found her. She was held against her will in an RV on a vacant piece of land. A code enforcement worker noticed her when they went to the RV in Perris. Previously the lady saw one of Debbie flyers and emailed her. Debbie has photos of where this took place and conditions. Her daughter was mentioning some of her things were going missing and she feared this man came back to take her. Then one day she was just gone. Debbie went looking for her.
Page 817
10. The entire room where the cats were was never shown. The log cabin had a roof vent that was always open. It came with 2 3 x 2 windows. The cats also had a auto cleaning litter box but it broke.
Page 820
1. There was 6 cats that got along. It was only a few days since the litter box was cleaned. 6 cats poop a lot and are very messy.
Page 821
1. Mold on feces can grow in 24 to 48 hours depending the humidity. The log cabin was under a 200 year old oak tree. The log cabin had ventilation. Craig and Debbie had in their possession air conditioner for the cats, Also a catio was about to be built so the cats through the cat door could go in and out. It was to be a Tractor Supply 5 x 10 dog kennel with horse wire on top. With shelves. Debbie researched this in January 2017 and has photos. Photos the log cabin and cat in the log cabin should have been shown to the Judge and Jury,
8. It was cheap litter from Tractor Supply. It was not quality litter such as the litter Pretty Litter. The cats only would urinate on poop on the surface. It was only a few days. Debbie’s mother became ill, Debbie’s daughter was missing and Craig’s dad was ill needing help. Craig had to go to Utah. There was a big box of brand new litter in Debbie’s truck.
Page 824
23 Officer Middleton got the size of the room wrong. Where the cats were was a 8 x 10. There wasn’t only 1 chair for the cats to sit on. There was 2 cat trees that could hold 6 cats.
Testimony Lt. Leslie Huennekens
Defendant’s Response to Court Transcripts
Page 835
24. The Hemet address is not 40852.
Page 837
17. There is a lot of theft in that part of Hemet being rural. Yes at the gate there is a lock.
Page 841
2. There was also a trash can of Beet Pulp. A feed store is 10 minutes away. There was never a concern about feed. Diamond Valley Feed store had every type of feed. If a truck delivery wasn’t possible Craig and Debbie had a truck and could use a trailer to get hay. If the hay wasn’t to Craig and Debbie’s standards they or Brandon and Jennifer got the hay. There was a period of time Diamond Valley’s hay wasn’t the best quality so it was purchased at Big Horse. There has always been sufficient amount of feed when feeding the animals.
16. The majority of the horses were not underweight. Only approximately 10 due to weather. Craig and Debbie had an extremely cold and wet winter. Even though it was May it recently rained and it was still in the 40’s at night. Craig in the mornings was still wearing his jacket. The ranch elevation is 2600 ft. The horses just started shedding. That’s when it was noticed a few horses were underweight and the horses feed was never reduced during the winter months / early spring. It was doubled. Debbie had hundreds of photos of horses being fed and how they are fed. Hundreds of photos and videos showing the horses conditions. The majority of the horses looked to be a 5 and 4. About 9 a 3 and 1 a 2. Callie was starting to have issues like she did in 2018. Every horse was checked in 2018 by a Veterinarian. Only 5 horses needed their teeth floated and it was done. Callie needed bloodwork and it was done. Some were over weight and needed feed reduced. 2019 there was a herd check by Veterinarian Fred Zadick. Fred wanted to testify but he had vertigo. Debbie suggested to Mr. Bruggeman a Zoom call should be done. The weight concern had nothing to do with not getting enough feed. In the colder months horses burn calories to keep themselves warm. The hay and wet feed was increased. Just like in 2018 when a herd check was done the underweight horses had an issue. Sand in the belly or needed teeth floating. In 2019 when Dr. Fred Zadick did a herd check he had no concerns and didn’t recommend any horse to get their teeth floated. The horses were in large pastures. There was 21 horse stalls. Debbie has hundreds of photos and videos when the horses getting fed. Flake after flake they were given. There was no fighting over flakes. Lt. Huennekens would make it appear to the Judge and Jury all these horses are together in small pastures. The horses were in very large pastures. 5 of them and 21 horse stall at the Hemet ranch.
Page 842
5. Horses weren’t kept in pens together. Half the horses were in their own stall and there were 21 horse stalls and 5 very large pastures. There was no food competition. Debbie has hundreds of photos and videos of horses being fed. Veterinarian Fred Zadick was unable to come LT. Huennekens recommended Dr, Moss office. Craig immediately called Dr. Moss office.
20. There was sufficient feed on the property and there is a feed store 10 minutes away. When purchased it is preferred to get no more than 3 days due to hay is flammable. Craig and Debbie had experienced their truck catch on fire bringing home hay so believe it hay is real flammable. Debbie has photos. Craig and Debbie prefer fresh hay. They also found at times Diamond Valley feed doesn’t have the best quality. It just got to the point Craig and Debbie preferred picking out their own bales of hay.
Page 843
4. Officer Huennekens recommended a DVM Moss’s office to come out. Craig would later found out DVM Moss’s Veterinarian in his office treats Officer Huennekens personal horses. Craig found out during the herd check Dr. Celeste Martin that works for Dr. Moss is Officer Huennekens Veterinarian. Dr. Moss is also the Veterinarian for FalconRidge horse rescue that in time would take approximately 30 of Craig and Debbie’s horses. Conflict of interest.
12. Veterinarian Celeste Martin is Office Huennekens personal Veterinarian.
Page 846
13. All horses teeth were checked May 2018. Only 5 at the time needed their teeth floated and they were done. A farrier at the time was coming out. Hooves were being trimmed.
17. A farrier was out May 9, 2021 and prior.
Page 847
10. Smaller horses were given 2 flakes of Alfalfa hay larger horses per day 3 to 6 flakes of Alfalfa per day plus approximately 13 twice a day feed wet buckets were passed out. Some horses got a lunch. Feed was never reduced only increased. From January 2021 through May 2021 Craig and Debbie experienced colder, wetter and windier weather than usual. Approximately 3 times it snowed, The ranch is at 2600 ft. elevation. Winds were so severe it blew off shade covers and wood horse tack rooms. Blew over trees and the playground set. Most of the horses still had winter coats. It was still in the middle of the night in the 40’s. Debbie has photos and videos of the severe weather in 2021.
13. Officer Huennekens failed to tell Craig when she recommended Dr. Moss’s office for a herd check that Dr. Martin that works for him is a Veterinarian that does herd checks for his office. She failed to tell Craig Dr. Martin was her personal Veterinarian for her personal horses. That also Dr. Moss is a Veterinarian for a horse rescue FalconRidge where Riverside County Animal Services and Animal Friends of the Valleys takes the horses they seize. This happens to be the rescue they took approximately 30 of the horses were taken. Horses valued at a minimum of $100,000. This is a conflict of interest. Craig should have been informed so he could make the decision of the Veterinarian. Several of the horses were owned by Elizabeth Wiley that Officer Huennekens would not let her have her horses back and anyone else that wanted their horses back. Elizabeth Wiley called Officer Huennekens she wanted her horses back and so did the previous owner of Gorgeous George. Craig did call Dr. Moss’s right away to schedule an appointment.
14. The majority of the horses were at a good weight, 5’s and 4’s. a few were on the thin side that was noticed once they started losing their winter coat. It is known that in the winter months horses lose weight due to burning calories due to the colder weather. Their feed was not reduced at anytime. It was increased including their wet feed. Craig and Debbie did have concerns about Callie a 40 year old horse that just happens to be the photo of a horse the DA kept using in court.
Page 848
1. The majority of the horses were a 5 to 4. Only approximately 10 were underweight. It was due to the harsh weather. Mt. Laramie’s Veterinarian Dr. Crowley Hower when she came out to do a herd check was not concerned about the condition of the horses. She didn’t feel it was an emergency or that horses needed to be seized. She made recommendations.
Page 849
23. The Hemet ranch had 5 very large pastures and 21 horse stalls. When horses needed to be moved to another ranch the pastures were very large. There was never fighting for hay or feed whether it was at the Wildomar ranch, Hemet ranch or the Sage ranch. Debbie has hundreds of photos and videos regarding this including how spread out the horses are. Craig and Debbie were denied to provide any evidence including medical records, medicine purchases for the animals, farrier receipts, photos or videos. Not one single piece of evidence to show Craig and Debbie are innocent. All Prosecution Witnesses did not tell the truth and did not provide accurate information to the Judge and Jury,
Page 850
3. Horses at the Sage ranch were not losing weight. They were gaining weight. Where the horses were moved to which was the Sage ranch the renter of the property was a farrier and he was trimming the horses hooves. Between May 2021 and October 2021 3 different farriers were used. The agreement with the owner of the Sage property was the pastures were to be mucked daily which they were by Jennifer Burton and Brandon Almeida. The horses were fed daily by Jennifer Burton and Brandon Almeida. Horses were given water daily by Jennifer Burton and Brandon Almeida.
5. There was a horse named Dancer that fell in love with a horse and got a little aggressive.
Page 851
3. Horses were not underfed. The horses never once missed a feeding.
Page 852
1. Most horses eat off the ground. You can put the feed on a rubber mat and they still will move it to the dirt. The same with a bucket. Horses like to eat off the dirt.
Page 853
1. Debbie has thousands of photos and videos of the horses washed, groomed, exercised, fed and this evidence was not allowed to be introduced into court. Mr. Bruggeman had these photos and videos at least 1 1/2 years emailed to him. Approximately 996 emails of photos, videos, documents were sent to him including a 5 inch binder of photos and records. Photos from June 2021 Debbie had shot photos of the horses and are not in the condition stated here in court. The Hemet ranch had 5 very large pastures. 21 horse stall. Photos from the Sage ranch show large pastures and dividers. Horses were not fighting over hay or grain.
Page 856
1. Debbie has numerous photos of the horses October 2021 at the Sage ranch and they are not underweight. These photos were not allowed to be introduced in court.
Page 859
1. His name is Little Harvey it was never Little Harry. Little Harvey still had his winter coats on. Debbie has a photo taken June 21, 2021. He still has his winter coat. Little Harvey’s feed was increased.
Page 862
12. Mt. Laramie Veterinary Dr. Crowley Hower came out 7/15/2021 and said and wrote on her report “No Horses Appeared to be Abused or Neglected.” Also stated on the report “Please schedule a recheck appointment in 6 months.’ Dr. Crowley Hower also stated in an email dated August 9, 2021 “Hi Debbie I am so sorry that this happened to you. We sent the exact same report to you that we did to animal control. We specifically stated at the bottom of the report that no animals appeared to be abused or neglected. I am not sure what more could have been said. We outlined what needed to be done for the horses that were on the thinner side. Unfortunately we cannot control what animal control does with the information we provided. Lets us know if we can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, Mt. Laramie Veterinary Services.”
A herd check was done May 2018. Every horse was checked including their mouths. Any horse that it was recommended for bloodwork be done was done. Every horse that it was recommended have their teeth floated was done. Another herd check was done in 2019 by Veterinarian Fred Zadick who was also the Veterinarian Expert Witness for the Preliminary Hearing. He had no problem with the ranch or how the horses looked.
21. Craig did not have any records on him regarding medical or farrier work done during the herd checks. Craig didn’t know the dates. Whenever a Veterinarian was needed one was called. When teeth floating was recommended it was done. Farrier services were always done. During the pandemic sometimes it was difficult to find a Farrier to come out. Farrier work was being done.
Page 863
22. Numerous horses in August 2021 were given to Officer Huennekens. Approximately 28 were then moved to the Sage ranch.
Page 864
1. Some of the horses were Craig and Debbie’s personal horses that they paid hundreds to thousands of dollars for and some Craig and Debbie didn’t own such as Elizabeth Wiley that paid $800.00 per month since 2013 until October 2021 that Officer Huennekens would not allow her to come and get her horses. They were equine therapy horses. The previous owner of Gorgeous George wanted her horse back and she was denied by Animal Control too.
Page 865
1. Debbie started emailing Office Huennekens 6/25/2021 forwarding an email Debbie wrote an email to Dr. Moss’s office. Debbie has an voicemail from Dr. Moss’s office dated June 28, 2021 that the fee for the herd check would be reimbursed. The voicemail stated: “Hi Craig this is Shannon calling back from Temecula Creek Veterinary. I was able to chat with Dr. Moss in regards to the visit from Dr. Martin out there and wanted to let you know that he did reach out to animal control and informed them to pull the report that was emailed to them as he read over it and I definitely see some you know holes and there some questions that were now some information that should've been excluded and then some information that obviously should have been placed in in place there as well as photos from the exam so he did offer and said that he would refund the money that was charged to your card ending in 0724 in the amount of $250 so I will go ahead and charge that money back on to your card refund that amount to you from the 11th and then the animal control officer did say that you just need to have of that of your choice. Come on out to the farm and redo the exam. So I will go ahead and refund that money and like I said that report has been pulled from Animal Control so that will not be used. She was going to be deleting that and just sending that back to us and if you have any other questions feel free to reach out our number here 951-395-0398 and I wish you the best. Thanks so much bye bye.”Immediately Craig calledVeterinarian Fred Zadick and he recommended Mt. Laramie’s office to do a herd check. Craig called Mt. Laramie’s office and scheduled the herd check. Officer Huennekens did not pull Dr. Moss / Dr. Martin report and forwarded to the DA and Judge which resulted in the horses being seized and the majority of the horses sent to FalconRidge horse rescue in Valley Center. Conflict of interest. From June 25, 2021 Debbie emailed numerous emails to Officer Huennekens that included Dr. Moss’s office voicemail about the refund and for her to delete the report. To get another Veterinarian. Photos and videos of the horses, feed, medical reports etc.
Page 870
1. Bruno Ramos was the renter at the Sage ranch. There was never an agreement with him to do all the care for the horses. Only farrier work. Craig and Debbie were told in court don’t feed the horses etc. Only that is what they are aware of. Debbie’s attorney Mr. Bruggeman stuck in front of Debbie a document and said sign here which she did. Debbie had a broken ankle at the time and could barely walk for 2 years. Debbie couldn’t wear a shoe for 2 years. The owner Gary Johnson of the property at the Sage ranch said the horses in October 2021 were looking better and better putting on weight. He even wrote a letter which was given to Craig and Debbie’s attorneys to be used at trial which wasn’t. Craig wasn’t the one feeding, watering, mucking the pastures. It was Jennifer Burton and Brandon Almeida,
Page 871
10. The horses were not getting skinnier and skinnier. Their feed had doubled. It wasn’t one large pasture. There were divided sections and Little Harvey not Little Harry had his own stall. The Judge and Jury should have been shown photos the entire pasture. It was very large and had dividers. The horses were thrown several flakes each. There was no fighting over flakes of hay. Debbie has numerous photos showing lots of space. Horses eating and horses not looking skinny. Drive around horse areas and you will see lots of pastures that mini horses and horses of normal size sharing a pasture and eating hay together. Unfortunately it was an accident with Little Harvey at times he liked to stick his head out of the stall. Debbie has a photo of him doing so. No one saw Little Harvey stick his head out of the stall and get kicked in the head. It is assumed. Craig did not say he saw it happen. Please provide the bodycam footage that he said it.
28. There was a couple of horses that had to be separated because a couple of male horses jealousy over a new girlfriend mare.
Page 873
8. There was 21 horse stalls and 5 very large pastures at the Schramm Hemet ranch. The pastures had plenty of space. Debbie has hundreds of photos and videos of Jennifer Almeida, Brandon Almeida, Micah Brill and Craig throwing bales of hay to the pastures and there is no fighting over feed. Debbie has hundreds of photos and videos of the horses that there is no fighting period. Drive up and down rural areas and you will see different size horses together in pastures. Not all horses are in induvial horse stalls throughout Riverside County or the United States.
Page 876
25. Wyatt was a horse that meant a lot to Craig and Debbie. They bought him at auction in 2012. It was their personal horse and he was the horse DVM Charles Edgerly “Doc” rode every day for 4 years. He was also the riderless horse several times on Memorial Day at the Lake Elsinore Memorial Day Ceremony, Debbie had hundreds of photos and videos. Wyatt had no health issues. Wyatt was fine the night before and found dead in his stall. Craig, Debbie and Lee cried over the death of Wyatt,
Page 877
21. Please provide the bodycam footage that says Craig said he saw Little Harvey get kicked in the head. Nobody saw it happen it is just assumed so. Little Harvey not Little Harry, there has never been a Little Harry Little Harvey wasn’t in the pasture with other horses and got kicked on his head. It was assumed that being in his own stall he stuck his head out and got kicked in the head.
Page 878
28. August 2020 Debbie broke her foot. She was unable to put on a shoe for 2 years. The outdoor chores she did do Jennifer Burton took them over. When it was time to move the horses Brandon and Craig were loading them up on the upper pasture into the horse trailer. Debbie heard a lot of noise and drove the UTV to the upper pasture. Limped to the bottom left side of the horse trailer. Brandon was at the upper left. Tessa was acting nuts she didn’t want to be in a horse trailer. Tessa was secured just like the hundreds of times Craig and Debbie transported horses. The lead rope was tied like it was normally to the horse trailer. When Craig left Tessa was standing up. Craig did not tell Officer Huennekens or any other Animal Control officer he transported Tessa with her on the floor of the horse trailer. Please provide the bodycam footage Craig saying it.
Page 880
2. It is embarrassing how the legal system is treating Craig and Debbie. First Mr. Bruggeman was emailed hundreds of photos, videos, for 2 years, evidence proving the innocence of Craig and Debbie. Hundreds of photos, Medical records, teeth floating records, farrier receipts etc. in a 5 inch binder that took days to put together 3 of them, punching the holes in the photos and on the day of jury selection Mr. Bruggeman tells Debbie in front of Craig and Jennifer not 1 photo, not one document, nothing, not any of the vital witnesses would be called testify. When Craig arrived at Riverside County Animal Services and got out of the truck is when he first learned Tessa was down. Tessa was one of Elizabth Wiley’s equine therapy horses. Animal Control officers were pulling Tessa out of the trailer in the splits. There was no blood in the trailer. Craig immediately texted Debbie.
Page 881
1. Please provide the bodycam footage of Craig saying Tessa was down in the trailer leaving the Schramm property. Tessa was standing up just like all the other horses Craig has transported. Debbie has hundreds of photos and videos of Craig loading and unloading horses. Animal Friends of the Valleys was even going to have a class Craig showing their Animal Control officers how to do it the correct way in 2016 after Officer Middleton saw Craig do such a good job the day picking up 2 horses for them.
Page 886
28, Debbie has photos of the horses taken in June 2021 and October 2021. The horses are not shinny, they are well taken care of. The majority of the horses are a 5 and 4. Approximately 9 a 3 but improving and 2 Callie a 40 year old horse. In the numerous photos Debbie has taken during May 2021 to October 2021 the horses are not in the condition as described. Mt. Laramie Dr. Crowley Hower had no concerns. The market value of the horses seized is approximately $100,000. Normally horse rescues ask for donations caring for the horses and then ask for an adoption fee when they are adopted. When these horses were seized and about 75% were at a good weight someone profited. The horses were not in the condition that they should have been seized. Debbie’s photos should have been shown in court showing how large the pastures were, no fighting over feed, how horses are fed. There are thousands of photos.
Page 890
1. There was always Alfalfa hay on hand, occasionally Bermuda. Alfalfa pellets, Senior feed, Oats, Beet pulp, Rice bran on hand.
Lies to the DA, Judge & Jury from Prosecution Witnesses
Rosemarie Eisner, Holly Wilcox, Melodee Latta, David Boyd, Jill Boyd, Tim Hieter, Officer Monquenec Middleton, Therron Hubbell, Bill Hepburn, Dr. Susan Eyer-Anderson, Lt. Lesley Huennekens, Dr. Celeste Martin, Dr. Allan Drusys
