Debbie really didn’t have interaction with Rosemarie. The move of the horses was an adjustment to some. Rosemarie was disgruntled because she wanted to purchase Radar but he was a sanctuary horse. Many horses at other ranches are in pasture. Pastures are very common. All the pastures at the Hemet ranch were large and the horses received many flakes more than the amount of horses in pasture. Debbie checked on the horses as they were being fed and throughout day walking and driving a UTV taking hundreds of photos and videos witnessing no fighting or fighting over hay or grain. All non profits, rescues and sanctuaries ask for donations. If volunteers or sponsors were buying unnecessary items for the horses yes they were asked if they could buy hay or grain instead. Craig doesn’t say about any horse if it can stand, he still wants to live. Pete was owned by Elizabeth Wiley. She came to volunteer and check on her 13 plus 1 mule horses when she was able to. Pete was at the ranch since 2013. Pete was being treated by DVM Charles Edgerly. The ranch had prescription medicine on the premises. JJ was one of Elizabeth Wiley’s horses. Before JJ was brought to Oak Meadows Ranch in 2013 Elizabeth had him looked at by many Veterinarians. It was determined JJ was not in pain or suffering. This is why Elizabeth Wiley should have testified. It’s her horse. She could have explained everything about her horses and history of the horses and mule. JJ once he came to the ranch in 2013 he was treated by DVM Charles Edgerly. At no time has a Veterinarian said JJ needed to be euthanized. DVM Charles Edgerly recommended a way to treat JJ’s leg which volunteer Kathy Smith did. She was a volunteer at the ranch since 2012 and came to the ranch daily. The chores that the Prosecution Witnesses are complaining about that weren’t done Kathy Smith was doing daily which is why she should have been called to testify in court.
Testimony Holly Wilcox
Defendant’s Response to Court Transcripts
5. All dogs kennels were hosed out and cleaned at approximately 6:00 AM by Debbie. The dogs each a Fortiflex 20 quart hang over the fence horse bucket full of fresh water. The buckets scrubbed and bleached weekly. The concrete pavers bleached weekly. The dogs then walked by Debbie before 8:30 AM before volunteers came to the ranch. Pomeranians were carried and put in the 4 x 16 dog kennel. The Pomeranians usually left out until volunteers came because they barked a lot. Pomeranians were taken out about 2:00 PM and left out for about 1 hour then brought in. Pomeranians taken to their 4 x 16 kennel again in the evening. Debbie has many photos and videos.
7. Lucky the German Shepherd / Husky always roamed the ranch. Big dogs were walked individually after volunteers or visitors left. Big dogs released 3 at a time. All dogs except Lucky were brought in before the sun came up and secured. If big dogs at night weren’t roaming the ranch they slept in the RV.
8. Great Pyrenees, Traditional German Shepherd, White German Shepherd, German Shepherd /Husky, Pomeranian.
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25. JJ was owned by Elizabeth Wiley. JJ was brought to the ranch in 2013. DVM Charles Edgerly checked on him daily. Volunteer Kathy Smith cleaned JJ’s leg daily. DVM Charles Edgerly had Elizabeth Wiley’s permission at anytime to euthanize him. DVM Charles Edgerly said JJ wasn’t in pain and was not suffering.
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21. Since 2013 Elizabeth Wiley had been donating $800.00 per month for 13 horses and 1 mule. It made no difference if one of the 13 horses and 1 mule passed away or had to be euthanized and that includes JJ Elizabeth still donated $800.00 month a until October 2021. Typically boarding a horse is $250 per horse. Which should have been for 13 horses plus 1 mule $3,500 per month.
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4. DVM Huth and DVM Witzel had come out other times in 2016 and 2017 at the Wildomar ranch called out by Craig Phillips. They also came out to the Hemet ranch after 2017.
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22. Serenity was found by Debbie during her morning rounds checking on the animals and seeing if everything was ok on the ranch before volunteers came. Debbie found Serenity January 29, 2017 at 8:20 AM stuck in the pipe stall. She had 2 water buckets full of water and knocked over one. Serenity was all muddy. At that time there was no volunteers on the ranch. When she appeared to have recovered in the afternoon approximately 1:30 PM she was bathed to get the mud off. At that time she was very alert. Debbie has photos of what happened.
28. When Craig and Debbie leased the Wildomar ranch there were many rats on the property including the barn (garage) and house. The house had plastic hanging from the ceiling to catch rat droppings and urine from the rats. Craig and Debbie had no knowledge of the conditions of inside of the house. The renters just started moving their possessions out April 1, 2012. 2 parents and a baby were living in the house and in the wooden shed was 2 parents and a baby. That was April 2012. In time Craig will remodel the house twice. Craig and Debbie called out exterminators but the exterminators never kept their appointments. Lucky the dog would kill rats. In time it was suggested to get barn cats and that’s what Craig and Debbie did. It is not unusual to have rats in a rural area. Barn cats were often advertised on Craigslist.
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15. There were no volunteers on the ranch at 7:30 AM that morning. Only Craig, Debbie and Jim and his family that were the horse riding instructors that lived on the ranch in an RV.
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5. Holly started coming to the ranch volunteering in February 2014.
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11. It made no difference if someone was coming out to visit the ranch or sponsor a horse. If needed a Veterinarian was called. At times it is difficult to get a Veternarian out especially the weekend. Most that own a horse experience that and even beg on Facebook asking for suggestions when a horse is experiencing something such as colic. Craig did call a Veterinarian. Craig was trained for 4 years by DVM Charles Edgerly how to care for a horse that is colicing,
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18. JJ died October 31, 2016 at 12:43 AM. Debbie found him and called Craig immediately. JJ did not die in a pool of blood. In the morning when volunteers arrived JJ was not under a pipe stall he was in the middle of the stall with a tarp covering him awaiting a horse hauler to remove his body. He was not in a pool of blood. Elizabeth Wiley was contacted immediately by Debbie JJ had passed away. Debbie has photos of what happened.
Testimony Melodee Latta
Defendant’s Response to Court Transcripts
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1. Melodee Latta stopped coming to the ranch in March 2017. On March 20, 2017 Melodee took Myrtle and Poppy out of their 24 x 48 stall and walked them to one of the arenas and let them run. Myrtle injured her hip and a Veterinarian was called Myrtle was euthanized. Craig was not at the ranch at the time. Debbie was. When Melodee called Debbie Debbie immediately called the live in ranch hand. They both rushed to Myrtle. Debbie took photos. She was very upset with Melodee because Myrtle and Poppy had a very large stall and with them being in their 40’s it was not necessary to take them out and run them in an arena.
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10. Volunteers were not continuously told there was no food. It was encouraged for volunteers to fundraise and ask people for donations. Around September 2016 Melodee right after Barbara Barnaba left to retire Melodee asked if she could train new volunteers and be the one volunteers went to. Previously it was what Craig and Barbara did. Barbara and Craig always had paperwork for new volunteers to fill out. Just like the all rescues and sanctuaries volunteers were asked to donate for food and care for the animals. It was a non profit ranch. There were signs posted throughout the ranch asking for a $5.00 a day donation. At the times there was hay and grain ordered and the delivery truck ran late when Melodee or volunteers were present and the delivery happened after they left. Late 2016 through 2017 Aaron Waters was an evening feeder and he normally had another volunteer help or Craig would help feed. Melodee would at times contact Debbie by text if there was hay. Debbie would look to see if hay was in the barn and here was stacks of hay in the barn. Debbie has photos of a couple of the texts that include photos. There was always 2 volunteers that were scheduled to feed the in horses etc. in the morning and 2 volunteers late afternoon. If there wasn’t scheduled feeders Craig would do it himself or both Craig and Debbie.
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5. DVM Charles Edgerly had been treating Dallas. It got to the point Dallas was getting angry. Craig and Debbie believed it was time to euthanize Dallas. Melodee begged them not to. Melodee offered to pay a Veterinarian for treatment and she did. Debbie has photos May 13, 2016 of Dallas.
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10. DVM Charles Edgerly didn’t own a horse at the ranch. There were very few riding horses at the ranch and vistors wanted to ride horses. Wyatt was one of the horses Craig and Debbie purchased at auction in October 13, 2012. Debbie has photos. Wyatt was a posse horse and DVM Charles Edgerly came to the ranch daily and also rode Wyatt daily.
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6. As soon as Craig and Debbie were told there was a problem with Princess was June 9, 2015. DVM Charles Edgerly came to the ranch as soon as he could. Craig did everything DVM Charles Edgerly asked him to do before he got there. When it was diagnosed Princess had to be euthanized everyone was asked to leave. Early evening when it was daylight Princess was euthanized. Princess passed away June 9, 2015. Elizabeth Wiley was the owner. Princess had been at the ranch since 2013. Elizabeth was notified that evening.
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1. There was never a lack of food. Craig was trained by Terry Mundy Goodwin and DVM Charles Edgerly how to properly feed a horse and the proper amount. A horse or animal has never missed a feeding and the proper amount of hay and grain was given.
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6. Melodee was not near or around when Trooper the large warmblood was fed. Each feeding Trooper was fed 3 flakes of alfafa and a bucket of grain. Compared to the average size horse which is 1 good size flake of alfafa. If the flake was on the small size 1 ½ flakes were given per feeding to the average size horse.
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21. Debbie has a video of Mrytle and Poppy of Craig taking them out of the horse trailer when they arrived and put in quarantine in an arena away from the other horses. Debbie has a photo of their 24 x 48 stall with cover. During Debbie’s check on the ranch after 8:00 AM that happens to be June 2, 2017 at 8:31 AM has a video of Poppy before Animal Control did their surprise inspection. On June 2, 2017 the live in ranch hand fed the horses and animals early and finished before 8:30 AM. Poppy had no problem eating and drinking that day. Craig was in Utah that day caring for his sick dad. Debbie was not aware at anytime of an issue with Poppy.
22, Myrtle and Poppy arrived August 22, 2016. Debbie has a video of them getting out of the horse trailer.
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22. Craig was the one that recommended that volunteers give Poppy Bute when it was noticed she was having an issue with her leg.
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1. JJ’s leg would get larger and then smaller.
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6. The brand new log cabin was rent to own Debbie has a receipt for $5015.52. It arrived November 28, 2016. Jim Kiesner installed vinyl flooring.
19. The cats were in a well ventilated 8 x 15 log cabin that was insulated under a 200 year old oak tree. It was still in the 40’s at night. Brand new vinyl flooring. It had an oscilating fan that was always on. 2 cat trees to climb on and sit on. Large enough for 6 cats. 1 chair for Debbie to sit on and when visiting. 1 radiator heater for heat. A cat door. An air conditioner was on the property ready to install. A catio was just to be installed. Debbie has photos.
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16. In April 2012 chickens came with the property. 11 hens 1 rooster. They were game chickens and not very friendly. The previous renters raised them for breeding cockfighting roosters. They were free range. In time they would become friendly. During mating season the roosters would fight. They also molt a different time then other chickens. Chickens molt and hens get bare backs due to roosters. When chickens get injured they had to be separated so a large 10 x 12 chicken coop was built. Craig and Debbie built it. It was very ventilated. And would have what they called a chicken patio screened in. When a free range chicken got hurt it went in the large chicken coop what they called the chicken patio. When a chicken has open wounds they have to be separated from other chickens or they’d be pecked to death. Most chicken owners at that time put them in dog wire dog crate to protect them. There was not dog wire dog crates stacked on top of each other. A piece of wood was placed on top of the dog wire crates so chickens poop didn’t go on the injured rooster. There were approximately 11 chicken coops. 1 large one and 10 smaller ones housing purebred chickens such as Silkies, Black Copper Marans, Cochins and Orpingtons.
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12. Many horses had access to shade covers. When given donation for such items as shade covers shade covers were installed. At times it would take awhile to install because it requires 2 to 3 men. Rarely were there men volunteers. Usually senior women, young and older women, children and especially teenager girls.
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9. Volunteers and visitors many treated us like we were a public facility open year round and on holidays. They especially liked to have family picnics such as Christmas which happens to be Craig’s birthday. By late 2016 many of the volunteers started treating Craig and Debbie badly like they wanted to take over the ranch and kick Craig and Debbie off the ranch. When it was time for Craig to eat they’d have him do something. They wouldn’t give Craig a chance to take a break. That includes these Prosecution witnesses. Holly and Melodee treated DVM Charles Edgerly badly. Melodee was the one scheduling volunteers at the time and she was asked since many volunteers did like to be at the ranch on holidays could she schedule some on Christmas it was Craig’s birthday.
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19. Debbie knows who Myrtle is. Debbie was present when Craig and Debbie picked up Myrtle and Poppy. Debbie videotaped when Myrtle and Poppy arrived at the ranch and were put in an arena for quarantine. They were the only mules on the ranch at the time. Debbie was present when building their stall and at times feeding and watering. Craig and Debbie many times did the evening feed including giving water if needed. Debbie was present seeing Myrtle and Poppy being fed and eat. As soon as Myrtle was down Debbie and the live in ranch hand rushed to see what happened to Myrtle. Craig was not on the ranch at the time.
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
