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
Testimony Rosemarie Eisner
Defendant’s Response to Court Transcripts
1.
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.
Page 459
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.
Page 460.
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.
Page 468
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.
Page 474
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.
Page 476
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.
Page 477
5. Holly started coming to the ranch volunteering in February 2014.
Page 478
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,
Page 480
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
Page 485
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.
Page 487
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.
Page 488
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.
Page 489
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.
Page 490
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.
Page 494
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.
Page 496
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.
Page 499
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.
Page 501
22. Craig was the one that recommended that volunteers give Poppy Bute when it was noticed she was having an issue with her leg.
Page 503
1. JJ’s leg would get larger and then smaller.
Page 506
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.
Page 507
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.
508
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.
Page 509
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.
Page 541
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.
Testimony David Boyd
Defendant’s Response to Court Transcripts
Page 553
23. All volunteers are asked to check the horses water buckets and if needed to fill them up first thing in the morning, afternoon and evening. Late evening Craig and Debbie would check the buckets. Many times filling them as late as 11:00 PM. Sometimes volunteers would dump the water out of the buckets and then forget to refill them. Waters were checked often. In the summer months the horses drank more so the buckets were checked often. Those that weren’t sponsoring a horse for $100 a month were asked to donate for feed. It is understood and several signs on the ranch and on the gate asking for a minimum of $5.00 per visit to go towards the feed and care of the horses. All rescues and sanctuaries ask for donations. You can currently go on Facebook and rescues ask for donations because they don’t have enough donations to buy hay, supplies, farrier and funds to pay a Veterinarian. Common practice. Some rescues even say they don’t enough donations for the next feeding. The goal for a rescue or sanctuary is for the Board of Directors to not have to pay for the care and feed of the horses. But many times they have to. Craig and Debbie always made it clear they were a volunteer ranch.
27. Craig and Debbie did not send a text to David or Jill there was no hay for them to either buy hay or just donate money for hay. Craig recalls a time Melodee took it upon herself to text David for a hay donation and it angered Craig and Debbie. Those that donated $100 or more per month a text asking for a donation wasn’t meant for them. The donation request was meant for those that don’t donate for the feed and care of the horses. Melodee was always in a panic mainly because of Jill. Hay deliveries were usually late morning and sometimes they ran late and it could be as late as 6: PM. Everytime Melodee texted Debbie if there was hay Debbie then checked and there was hay in the barn and the evening feeders had already fed the horses.
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13. All volunteers are asked to donate. Preferably hay. By the end of 2016 volunteers were starting to encourage no donations. They wanted Craig and Debbie to pay for everything and sell their personal items to pay for everything. Craig and Debbie had personal cars that were 2003 models. The volunteers had issues with their cars that were 14 years old. For years Debbie wrote flyers and websites encouraging hay donations either by calling the local feed stores. For years this was asked on the Oak Meadows Ranch website asking for donations or they could call a certain feed store and just pay for the hay and Craig and Debbie could pick it up or it could be added to the next delivery. The volunteers late 2016 started buying not needed items instead of the important items such as feed and grain.
Page 555
15. There was never 90 horses on the ranch. Craig or Debbie didn’t claim to have 90 horses.
19, Senior horses, horses with health issues and ones having difficulty putting on weight were kept near the round pen and DVM Charles Edgerly office trailer. They were not kept near the road. Debbie has video of when Special Needs children would come out as a school event visiting the horses. They really connected to the horses that had some issues.
20. Debbie has photos of the pasture David is referring to and those horses in the large pasture are not skinny.
Page 557
11. Each one of these Prosecution Witnesses wanted a horse. They became very upset when they choose a sanctuary horse or a personally owned horse by Craig and Debbie. There was always horses that were available for adoption. On the Oak Meadows Ranch website there has always been an adoption application. Also there had been adoption days.
19. No one was ever threatened with weapons.
Page 558
9. It was clear on the sign out front by the gate Oak Meadows Ranch was a rescue / sanctuary, flyers and website. The purpose was not to not rescue and resale. Oak Meadows Ranch mainly took in horses that owners no longer could afford. Some that didn’t even have feed that day for horses but they knew that their horses had a home that they could always visit. It was a sanctuary that those that wanted horses could come to Oak Meadows Ranch and be with horses. They enjoyed being able to do the chores to maintain a horse. There was many mothers and daughters that came almost daily to help feed, water, muck and groom the horses.
Page 559
25. Before the days of heavy rain in January 2017 David and Jill wanted to buy certain horses. Cody was the first horse Debbie personally rescued. It was owned by a family that the 2 teenagers rode. The parents were divorcing. The family could no longer afford the horse but wanted to be able to come and visit. Like many the concern was they wanted a permanent home for their horse and they didn’t want it to go to slaughter. Also Little Joe David and Jill wanted. An elderly couple donated Little Joe and wanted him to remain with Craig and Debbie. David’s wife Jill became obsessed with Debbie’s personal horse Sapphire. Sapphire was purchased in November 10, 2012 by Craig and Debbie. No Blue Pearl Project funds were used. Sapphire had just given birth and had to have surgery correcting her torn vagina. That’s probably why she was up for auction. Sapphire was purchased with the intentions to never selling her. Jill kept offering to buy her paying even $1,500.00 Debbie said no and it angered Jill. Jill would walk up and down in between the horses stalls saying she offered $1,500.00 and Craig and Debbie won’t sell Sapphire to her. However Jill was sold an available horse named Autumn in March 2017. Craig and Debbie only leased the property. It would also require city permits to add piping for the rain to drain. The owner of the property would not want to get involved in something like that. The owner didn’t even want to pay to fix the broken fence. He did no repairs. David’s offer for the $2,500.00 drainage system was in exchange for Sapphire. Craig and Debbie declined the offer. Each rain it was an easy fix to fix the arena with the tractor. At the time when the large arena was closed off for safety reasons 2 other smaller arenas were available.
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11. David and Jill were only on the ranch for about one month when JJ passed away. At that time David and Jill were volunteering on the other side of the ranch. Volunteer Kathy Smith was cleaning JJ’s leg daily. Kathy Smith was at the ranch daily volunteering doing every type of chore on the ranch. Kathy had her personal horse Red on the ranch.
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8. Craig had at that time had 4 years of training by DVM Charles Edgerly how to treat a horse that is collicking and giving injections in the jugular.
Page 575
1. Debbie is diabetic. She can not go hours without food. She crashes. Unfortunately having to check on Serenity from 8:20 AM finding her stuck in the pipe stall then checking on her throughout the day to see how she was coming along Debbie’s blood sugar at the time was crashing. Due to an event at the ranch she didn’t get a chance to eat. She didn’t buy items for lunch or dinner thinking she would eat at the event. She needed a meal. From time before Serenity got a bath which was 1:30 PM Serenity had improved and was doing well including afternoon, late afternoon and evening. Debbie has a photo of Serenity January 29, 2017 at 9:17 PM doing well. She had just finished eating a wet bucket of feed.
Page 576
8. Photo shown in court is not Serenity. Debbie has the photo of Serenity when Debbie found her January 30, 2017 at 8:08 passed away several feet from her feed bucket. When Debbie found Serentiy no volunteers were at the ranch yet.
Page 577
3. David and Jill made an agreement to purchase Autumn March 2017. The agreement included that they would leave Autumn at Oak Meadows Ranch for 6 months. David and Jill removed Autumn the very next day. Since they didn’t keep their agreement keeping Autumn at Oak Meadows Ranch and took her to a boarding facility it was felt and especially how Craig and Debbie were treated by David and Jill because they couldn’t buy Sapphire felt it was best they don’t come back. Jill for about 3 months was causing problems on the ranch. Such as a horse named Little Joe got lose out of the pasture but in a fenced off area she called Animal Control. She believed Little Joe got injured. Debbie took several photos of Little Joe with no injuries and texted Jill the photos. Jill thought Little Joe wasn’t eating. Craig took a video of Little Joe eating then it was texted to Jill. When Jill volunteered she gathered many times approximately 6 volunteers and when Debbie was near they would just stare at Debbie. Jill became a bully.
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13. David and Jill Boyd started volunteering around September 2016. That was approximately the time Barbara Barnaba had retired. She was the person all the volunteers went to. There was not a reason for David to go to the city of Wildomar or see Officer Middleton with Animal Friends of the Valleys. Daily there was a minimum of 5 volunteers morning, afternoon and early evening. Volunteers to clean and fill water buckets. 2 volunteers per feeding to feed horses. Horses or any of the animals never missed a feeding or the proper amount of feed daily. The stalls were mucked daily. Throughout the years Debbie has thousands of photos of the animals and conditions. The ranch these disgruntled Prosecution Witnesses claim is because they couldn’t get a certain horse. They were on the ranch to do the chores that they are complaining about. What they are complaining about was taken care of each day.
Page 591
15. June 2, 2017 an Animal Control officer did come out to the ranch. She walked the ranch with the live in ranch hand. The Animal Control officer while still at the ranch called Craig when he was in Utah. She informed him Oak Meadows Ranch passed inspection. Craig was in Utah that day caring for his sick dad. That week was an unusual week. Debbie’s mother was ill and each day Debbie spent several hours with her and Debbie’s daughter went missing and Debbie spent time each day trying to find her daughter. There were several volunteers each day feeding, watering and caring for the horses and animals. David had not been on the ranch since March 2017. On August 14, 2017 David called Animal Control reporting that the horses don’t have enough hay, They are being fed a handful of hay per day. The horses at all times were fed the appropriate amount of hay.
Page 598
9. October, 4, 2016 a horse known as Gorgeous George was donated to Oak Meadows Ranch to be a sanctuary horse to be shared with the visitors and volunteers. The owner had him for 2 months paying $8,000.00 for him. The daughter felt the horse was not compatible for her so they donated him. That was the horse Tim Hieter wanted and wanted him for free. Tim became disgruntled. He took it upon himself to trim the California Pepper trees and the way he did it the trees no longer put off shade. There was not very many trees on were the ranch it was very upsetting how he trimmed the trees. Tim even trimmed right after Thanksgiving the live Christmas tree that was planted in 2012 that was just about to be decorated by the volunteers for Christmas. He trimmed the Christmas tree into a ball. Debbie was very upset.
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17. The previous renters were raising game chickens for cockfighting. When they moved out 11 hens and 1 rooster was left behind. They were free range. They slept in the trees, under the house and in the barn in the rafters (garage) with the previous tenants and with Craig and Debbie. The only chicken coops in the barn was 2 chicken brooders for baby chicks to be raised in. Then when they no longer needed a heat lamp and were large enough they went into a chicken coop. Debbie raised purebred chickens.
25. The chickens at that time had each 2 gallon galvanized water containers and in the large chicken coop had 2 2 gallon galvanized water containers. All the waters were filled daily. Chickens were fed daily Chicken Scratch and Chicken Lay Mash. Chicken feed and food grade Diatomaceous Earth (gray) were kept in metal containers near the large chicken coop under a No Smoking sign. Empty chicken feed bags were on top to protect the chicken feed from moisture or rain. It may appear to someone it may be a trash can but no many farms and ranches store their feed in metal trash cans. Pine shavings were next to the barn and the chicken brooders. Yes chicken coops were cleaned out. Diatomaceous Earth and pine shavings were put into the chicken coop. Then chicken manure was sold in 50 pound bags to gardeners.
Page 601
1. Where hay was stacked chickens weren’t roosting over the hay.
Page 602
10. When pasture horses were fed flakes of hay were thrown and spread out and also put into a large feeder. There was no competition for feed. Plenty of flakes was spread out. The pasture was very large and the horses weren’t aggressive.
Page 603
3. Fawn and Dawn were well taken care of. Numerous volunteers mucked that section of the ranch. Volunteer Kathy Smith was a volunteer starting in 2012. She also had her horse Red at the ranch. Kathy came everyday to visit and feed her horse. She did all the types of chores throughout the ranch including mucking Serenity’s, JJ’s, Fawn and Dawn’s stall daily. Kathy was part of a program that paid seniors to volunteer. It’s called SCSEP program. Kathy volunteered more than the required hours daily. She would also bring her dog Cowboy to run around. Cowboy would run around and play with Lucky Craig and Debbie’s ranch dog. Kathy wanted to testify but Mr. Bruggeman refused to call her. Kathy during the time had a male friend come with her to volunteer. He wanted to testify, Craig and Debbie don’t recall his name.
Page 604
10. There was never 12 to 16 inches of manure. That section of the ranch was taken care of by several volunteers each day. Kathy worked that area daily, dumped and cleaned horse water buckets. Debbie has on a security videotape Kathy even discussing that area. It’s insulting to Kathy saying that area was not taken care of because she was getting paid by the Senior Program to do so.
Page 606
15. Craig did call a Veterinarian and talked to a Veterinarian. It was the weekend, it was Sunday and its hard to get a Veterinarian out immediately or that day. Serenity was weak when she was first found, shaky and would go down. As time went on she improved. By late morning she improved greatly by 1:00 PM enough to have the mud washed off her. Debbie has photos. Serenity ate wet feed approximately 9:00 PM sitting up. Debbie has a photo.
Page 614
9. Debbie would start to do chores at 6 AM. After caring for the dogs she drove a golf cart around the 21 acre ranch. Debbie checked on horses to make sure there was no problem such as a horse down, if it needed water, if a water pipe was broken. Debbie would text Craig if such and such was an emergency and needed Craig’s help or what should be done as soon as a volunteer came which would be at 8:30 AM. Debbie again usually drove the golf cart the entire ranch checking on everything. This was repeated afternoon and in the evening. Before 8:30 AM Debbie would wash dog kennels out, give them fresh water, walk them, play with them, feed grain to the goats and pigs. Debbie has hundreds of photos and videos of Debbie walking the dogs. The routine never changed when the first Zeus was murdered with poison that was never on the ranch November 19, 2014.
Testimony Tim Hieter
Defendant’s Response to Court Transcripts
Page 613
10. Craig and Debbie paid farriers since the start of the ranch in 2012. When a volunteer or sponsor pays for a farrier they aren’t forced to it is their choice. Craig and Debbie never stopped paying for farrier services.
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It wasn’t that Debbie became emotionally attached Craig would ask Debbie if a certain horse is a sanctuary horse. Most of the horses Craig and Debbie promised the previous horse owner the horse would never be sold. It would remain with Craig and Debbie being shared with the volunteers and visitors. Some were very expensive horses that the previous owner paid $200,000, $8,000, $3,500 for. They didn’t donate a valuable horse like that just to be flipped. They would have sold the horse themselves if that was the case. Tim was interested in a horse named Gorgeous George. The previous owner donated him as a sanctuary horse October 4, 2016. He cost the previous owner $8,000 and he was meant for her daughter. The daughter felt the horse was not compatible to her. The previous owner only had him 2 months then donated him to be a sanctuary horse. To be shared with those on the ranch that wanted to be with horses. So when Tim asked to adopt Gorgeous George in November 2016 for free to get some horses off the ranch Craig and Debbie had to say no. Craig and Debbie had to respect the wishes of the previous owner. Some horses there was an agreement with the previous owner if Craig and Debbie no longer wanted the horse to not sell it but to give it back such as Soldier and Little Charlie.
Page 615
1. The trees Tim trimmed were not in the way of horses and were not in the place to slap people in the face. Debbie several times a year would trim trees. They mainly were in the area horseback riders would take their horses being on the horses back and get shade. There wasn’t much shade on the ranch for people.
Page 617
28. The pine tree was about 20 feet away from Kathy Smith’s horse Red. Where it was located was not near anyone walked horses. The pine tree was a live planted Christmas tree from 2012 that is decorated each year. Debbie has photos of before and after.
Testimony Jill Boyd
Defendant’s Response to Court Transcripts
Page 625
9. Jill started volunteering after Barbara Barnaba retired in September 2016 until March 2017. That was approximately 6 months.
Page 631
1. The ranch normally had 2 volunteers feeding the morning and 2 volunteers in the evening. There was volunteers at the same time giving horses water. In the cooler months normally twice a day. Hot summer times 3 to 4 times a day. The horse may at times be low on water first thing in the morning but it get filled in the morning. Volunteers started 8:30 AM and it would take about 2 hours to fill water buckets. Then it got repeated. Debbie around 3:00 PM would drive around the ranch in her golf cart because its 21 acres and check the ranch and the horse water buckets. This is done with all the animals including chickens.
6. Kathy Smith was a paid volunteer by a Senior program and did the chores Jill is complaining about. The ranch was not in the conditions Jill is stating that is why Kathy Smith should have testified. Kathy took pride in the work she did daily and for hours. The horses never missed a feeding. If Jill believes there was no hay at times is because it was on order and the hay truck was running late but the horses did get fed.
Page 633
2. Cody was a sanctuary horse. He came from a ranch in Temecula and the couple were divorcing. Cody and Radar came from that family and Cody and Radar were their teenage kids horses.
27. Debbie did every type of chore on the ranch and had helped build the ranch including designing it. Debbie designed flyers, websites, took photos, uploaded photo to websites and Facebook for the ranch. Debbie often got out of bed in the middle of the night to check on the animals and scare off coyotes. Debbie had a sensitivity to heat and sun due to her diabetes. Times Debbie has to sit down. Diabetes is a terrible disease.
Page 634
9. Many of the volunteers had a problem if they Debbie saw sit down and take a break especially working all day. They had a problem if they saw her on her phone thinking she was playing games on her phone but in fact she was working on her phone. That particular day Jill was angry with Debbie. Debbie was taking a break sitting down and Jill was running up and down in between the stalls shouting out that Debbie wouldn’t take $1,500.00 for Sapphire. Just prior to that a volunteer was in that area filling up the horse’s water buckets.
Page 636
26. Craig and Debbie have no idea how much Jill donated for the feed and care of a horse. Craig and Debbie don’t know what she purchased other than she was purchasing unnecessary items many times. Craig and Debbie always stressed about donations being hay or grain.
Page 637
6. JJ was owned by Elizabeth Wiley. Elizabeth had many Veterinarian’s look at his leg including DVM Charles Edgerly. It was determined he was not in pain or suffering but should that happen he’d be euthanized. Elizabeth checked on him often. Kathy Smith would treat his leg everyday doing how it was suggested by DVM Charles Edgerly.
12. Jill was upset that the grounds were western themed. The ranch didn’t have white horse fencing and rolling green grass.
Page 639
JJ was Elizabeth Wiley’s horse. Elizabeth had numerous Veterinarian’s treat him. Not one Veterinarian had told Craig and Debbie JJ needed to be euthanized.
Page 640
6. Debbie was donated 2 baby ducks. The owner purchased them from Tractor Supply and they were too messy for her. They were in a temporary wire dog crate for protection. There was enough room for the 2 baby ducks. A large dog kennel was purchased and they were moved to the larger dog kennel with a plastic swimming pool, dog house and 2 gallon galvanized water container. The live in ranch hand was taking care of many of the animals between January 2017 until June 2017 in exchange for free rent. At that time he was the one feeding, giving water, cleaning out chicken coops and the ducks which included dumping the duck swimming pool. Debbie has a 90 page text communication with the ranch hand making sure certain duties are done each day. Debbie was always in communication with the live in ranch hand either by phone calls or texts. Early spring during mating season roosters would get in fights and had to be put into a dog wire crate for protection. The crate would be in what is called the chicken patio area and wounds treated with Vetrycin. The chickens in the chicken patio area liked sitting on top of the roofs of smaller chicken coops such as for Silkies. Those chicken coops such as you can buy at Tractor Supply aren’t heavy duty and a coyote can easily break it. So it’s inside the chicken coop area for protection. The upside Sparklets bottle hadn’t been used for about 6 months it was broken. In the chicken patio area sitting on 2 pavers was 2 2 gallon galvanized water containers filled everyday.
21. Jill started going around opening doors and animals would get out. Doors started to have to be locked. The cats were in a brand new insulated log cabin 8 x 15. The area where the cats were was 8 x 10. It had 2 windows, a ceiling vent, oscillating fan that was always on, radiator heater, 2 cat trees, a chair for Debbie to sit on, a cat door. Of course a cat would go to a window and meow. It was still cold at night in the 30’s and 40’s at night. Debbie has photos of the interior and the receipt. The receipt shows that there was a roof vent when it was made. Jill was a complainer. She would call and say Little Joe wasn’t eating. Craig went out and took a video of Cody eating. Jill would call Animal Control because Little Joe got out of the pasture there was no need to do so it was fenced in. He was caught and brought to an arena. She complained he was injured. Debbie went out to Little Joe and took photos of his entire body. No injuries, no blood.
Page Jill kept calling Animal Control. She was hardly at the ranch. Wasn’t there during hay and grain deliveries. Was not there during feedings.
Page 645
16. Autumn when at Oak Meadows Ranch in 2016 and 2017 was not under weight. In a short period of time being owned by David and Jill and at another ranch Autumn would die from colic under David and Jill’s care. The agreement with Jill to get Autumn at a certain adoption fee was she was to keep Autumn at Oak Meadows Ranch for 6 months. David and Jill were not very experienced with horses. Before David and Jill would leave with Autumn Craig and Debbie wanted to make sure Autumn would be in good hands.
Testimony Officer Monquenec Middleton
Defendant’s Response to Court Transcripts
Page 665
1. Between 2012 through December 2016 Willa Bagwell was the Director of Animal Friends of the Valleys. Beginning 2012 Animal Control was out at least 2 times per year. Until the raid on June 6, 2017 there at Oak Meadows Ranch, Craig or Debbie or the Board of Directors at the ranch were never given any type of warning or to correct something than make sure 4 dogs are licensed. The whole ranch was inspected including dog kennels and the dog kennels never changed for 1 ½ year prior to June 6, 2017. Animal Control never had an issue with the dogs or how they were housed. Debbie was on good terms with Willa Bagwell regarding harassment by certain volunteers when they couldn’t buy a certain horse. Animal Friends of the Valleys also experienced harassment and Willa asked for the name of the attorney Craig and Debbie were using. Craig and Debbie were also on good terms with Officer Middleton. Officer Middleton even emailed Debbie on July 8, 2016 for Craig and Debbie to meet her at a property to pick up 2 horses. Craig and Debbie did and housed the horses and called out DVM Huth and a farrier paying out of their own money for both. A DVM Cobb prior also checked both horses. Neither one of the Veterinarians diagnosed the one horse that she was pregnant. The two horses would be known as Majestic and Fawn. Debbie has many photos of the day the 2 horses were brought to the ranch and during the time DVM Huth came out to inspect them and the farrier getting their hooves trimmed.
Page 660
22. Most of the time when Animal Control came out our DVM Charles Edgerly also known as “Doc” was on the property during inspections. Each horse was checked. Animal Control walked the entire ranch. There was never any advise on how to care for something or make corrections until June 6, 2017. Director Willa Bagwell agrees to that fact even discussing it today. Approximately in July 2024 Craig and Debbie talked to Willa Bagwell. Since Willa Bagwell was the Executive Director of Animal Friends of the Valleys during 2012 until the end of 2016 Debbie requested Mr. Bruggeman to have Willa Bagwell as a Defense Witness. On the day of jury selection Debbie would learn that not one piece of defense evidence would be presented to the Judge and Jury but not even important witnesses such as volunteer Kathy Smith that was at the ranch everyday, volunteer horse trainer Chawn Kenavan that helped with feeding, giving the horses water, mucking and grooming and Willa Bagwell would not be called. All 3 should have been called to testify. Debbie’s photos and videos should have been shown.
Page 661
1. Again Willa Bagwell should have been called as a witness. Animal Control did not provide any education. Most of the time DVM Charles Edgerly was present when Animal Control came out. He was a highly respected Veterinarian and he inspected the horses daily. He also checked the horses if they needed teeth floating. He took continued education in teeth floating. He was an equine and small animal Veterinarian. From 2016 when he had his health problems to 2018 only 5 horses needed their teeth floated in 2018 which it was done.
Page 668
11. Officer Middleton left with 6 cats not 8.
13. The cats were in a brand new log cabin. It was a 8 x 15. The cats were in a 8 x 10 area. When Craig was in Utah caring for his sick dad on June 2, 2017 the Animal Control officer called Craig and discussed the inspection. She said she walked the entire area that the horses were. She had no complaints or issues regarding what she saw. There were currently several volunteers on the property. She did ask about the mule and Craig informed her Craig would be calling a Veterinarian when he got home.
Page 668
11. There was 6 cats in the log cabin. Officer Middleton only took 6 cats. She said she just had a cat adoption and was out of cats. The cats were healthy and fat.
13. The log cabin receipt says the actual size was 8 x 15. 8 x 5 for the storage area, 8 x 10 the area 6 cats were living. Most bedrooms in an average size apartment or house is 10 x 10 that includes a closet. The log cabin was purchased as a rent to own with a ceiling vent, 2 windows. 1 chair for Debbie and 2 cat trees that no one mentions. It also had a cat door before any cat went inside. Many use this as a man cave or she shed.
Page 669
At no time did anyone inform Debbie that Poppy had an issue.
14. No animal on the ranch was underfed. Poppy wasn’t underfed. Once her companion died she wasn’t eating like she usually did.
Page 671
5. The chickens were housed in very large chicken coops. Some chickens do molt that time of year. There was no featherless chickens. Some with bare backs which is common. The chickens have always been healthy. Chickens get bare backs due to roosters. Each chicken coop had a 2 gallon galvanized water container filled everyday. Chicken feed was nearby in metal containers that had Diatomaceous Earth, Chicken Scratch and Lay Mash. The water container Officer Middleton is referring to that was an upside down Sparklets bottle was not used for 6 months because it was broken.
Page 672
1. The big dogs the smallest dog kennel was a 5 x 10. The largest 10 x 10. All had an Igloo dog house, 20 quart horse bucket for water, they had misters, windscreens, shade cover and pavers. The dog kennels were hosed out first thing in the morning such as 6:00 AM. Usually again around 10:00 AM and evening. There was no feces seen. Dogs were walked daily. The routine of the dogs never changed when the first Zeus was poisoned November 19, 2014. Only a couple of dogs were on a zip line which was recommended by Officer Tucker. Craig and Debbie were told it is legal for a dog to be on a zip line.
9. One White German Shepherd was inside because he had an injured leg. He was kept in a large appropriate size dog crate for a German Shepherd so he’d stay off his foot.
13. The trailer they refer to is a 39 ft luxury RV with 3 slide outs. It’s 400 sq ft with 2 air conditioners. The photo the DA would show is not the correct RV the DA shows to the jury is a 24 ft motorhome. There was 6 Pomeranians. Mom, dad and 4 grown up adult puppies that had been living in Canyon Lake. All were spayed and neutered around 5 to 7 pounds each. Each dog crate was sufficient room for 2 small Pomeranians. That’s what they preferred. They were sleeping and cuddling next to their companion on fresh, clean bathroom towels with water. It was a regular sized bath towel from Walmart not a hand towel. It was so large the towel had to be folded. There was no feces or urine on the towels or crate. The crate was only closed if Craig and Debbie were not in the RV and the air conditioner was set at 72 degrees. Photo of 5th wheel RV was of the 24 ft business motorhome in court.
26. The RV came with an automatic vent fan, 2 air conditioners and the air conditioner was set at 72.
Page 675
8. The oscillating fan had never been knocked over and it was always on. If it was on its side then Animal Control knocked it over.
Page 679
1. None of the dog kennels had dirt. They all had pavers or partial horse rubber mats.
8. No feces or urine yes dogs shed.
12. There was no cardboard inside dog kennels. Debbie was real anal about keeping dog kennels fece free. No visible feces and urine was always hosed when present. Craig and Debbie know nothing about a piece of cardboard unless it blew there.
Page 680
14. German Shepherds and Great Pyrenees.
19. The smallest dog kennel is 5 x 10 purchased at Tractor Supply.
Page 682
24. The dogs when volunteers and visitors weren’t on the ranch had 21 acres to roam. Lucky dog ran free 24/7. Lucky 24/7 was seen and photographed in hundreds of photos and videos. She was never in a kennel. She came with the ranch. The dogs got plenty of attention and exercise.
Page 683
1. There was a dog zip line a dog named Sara used. Red Zeus II also used a zip line that was ok’d with Officer Tucker.
Page 685
3. Craig and Debbie were told to install drainage around the dog kennels. Debbie has photos that included a trench, PVC pipes and gravel. Craig and Debbie worked day and night trenching etc. Craig and Debbie were told to install a dog run which they did. That was all the improvements they were told to do and did. All Debbie was told to do about chickens was remove some from the large chicken coop which she did. Since they weren’t use to be outside of the chicken coop they got eaten my coyotes. Everyday the chickens got fresh water and chicken Scratch and Lay Mash. There was always chicken feed on the property everyday.
Page 686
1. The chicken coop was a 10 x 12 with lots of windows and ventilation. Debbie has photos. It has a large screened in patio area. There was never 100 chickens in the chicken coop. Many believe it was the best chicken coop they ever saw. There were smaller chicken coops like you can buy at Tractor Supply that housed purebred chickens such as Silkies that were in the screened chicken patio area. Not inside the actual chicken coop. There was a pond on the ranch that about 35 ducks would come and visit in the morning that Debbie fed. Volunteers may have thought the ducks were Debbie’s. Debbie has photos.
25. There was always chicken feed on the property in metal containers (common with most chicken owners) under the No Smoking sign. Each had an empty chicken feed bag on top in case it rain so rain didn’t leak on the feed bag.
Page 687
1. Animal Control came at 10:00 AM not all of the morning chores were done. Chickens were fed daily and given fresh water daily. That morning of the reinspection Craig and Debbie were still trenching, placing piping and placing river rock around the dog kennels.
14. The large Sparklets bottle hadn’t been used for 6 months it was broken. The large chicken coop had 2 2 gallon galvanized water containers. Each chicken coop had 2 2 gallon galvanized water containers purchased at Tractor Supply costing approximately $28.00 each.
Page 691
5. The key to the Log cabin for the cats was on Debbie’s key ring also in the ignition of the golf cart and inside the RV.
17. Debbie brought out the cats healthy and fat with no health issue. There was a full bucket of cat food inside the log cabin. A box of cat litter in the back of Debbie’s truck. Canned cat food in the RV.
Page 693
18. Mold on feces can grow 24 to 48 hours. These cats pooped on the surface. At that time Debbie’s mom was sick and daughter went missing, just vanished. The 2 litter boxes went a few days without being cleaned. At the time Tractor Supply litter was used and its not the quality of Pretty Litter.
Page 695
1. The cats were fed the night before and given fresh water.
Page 698
13. No one informed Debbie before the June 6, 2017 raid that there had been a problem with Poppy. Once Craig was informed Craig said he would call out a Veterinarian.
Page 703
The Animal Control Officer on June 2, 2017 told Craig on the phone that she did see all the horses and mule.
Page 704
9. The majority of the dogs were on the hill near the RV. The Pomeranians were inside in an air conditioned RV with an auto vent. The only reason the Pomeranians were in a crate is because Craig and Debbie weren’t there. That’s what the dogs liked. It was also for their protection because such as Jill and others opening doors. The Animal Control officer could have walked up the hill and looked at the dogs.
Page 707
10. The dogs weren’t kennel crazy they are security dogs and a stranger is walking by. They were walked daily and released daily. Animal Control never had a problem with it in prior inspections. Debbie has hundreds of photos of the dogs being walked and roaming the ranch. Not one piece of defense evidence was shown to the Judge and Jury.
Page 710
26. On July 8, 2016 Director at Animal Friends of the Valleys had Officer Middleton email Craig and Debbie to meet Officer Middleton at a location in Menifee to pick up 2 horses. Debbie had spoke to Officer Middleton that day for a few hours. Officer Middleton never had a problem with Craig and Debbie until June 6, 2017.
Page 717
9. Officer Middleton was getting calls because a group of disgruntled volunteers formed a group because they weren’t able to purchase a horse that they wanted. If Officer Middleton was getting calls and emails she should have contacted Craig or Debbie. Officer Middleton had secret meeting with these disgruntled volunteers that couldn’t get the horse of choice. Then formed a private Facebook page. The sign out front made it clear it was a rescue / sanctuary Craig and Debbie weren’t in the business to rescue and then sell horses. It was about rescuing horses and sharing them with those that come to the ranch. Many find mucking, cleaning horse buckets, giving fresh water, grooming horses, feeding horses relaxing.
Page 723
1. Craig and Debbie had a young lady volunteer Kara Johnson for a little over one year that wanted to purchase a sanctuary horse named Goldie. She knew from the beginning of volunteering that horse wasn’t available. The horse was a sanctuary horse. The owner had several offers of $3,500.00 for her. The owner would rather the horse be donated to the ranch to be shared with those that wanted to be with horses. Never to be sold. She was a gold Palomino Parade horse. Approximately February 2014 since she became angry and even involving her father to come to the ranch Craig and Debbie decided it was best she no longer visited or volunteered at the ranch. At that time the harassment included contacting Animal Friends of the Valleys Director Willa Bagwell and the city of Wildomar. Craig and Debbie have an email from Willa Bagwell regarding the inspection of the ranch at that time. The harassment continued on Facebook that thousands saw. Then Craig and Debbie hired Raxter Law and that Kara Johnson received a Cease and Desist letter. Within approximately 12 hours of her receiving the Cease and Desist letter Craig and Debbie’s German Shepherd security dog was poisoned and died. At no time after the dog died were dogs not released at night to be security dogs. Debbie has many photos of dogs running around the ranch and being walked by leash. Craig or Debbie never said dogs were stopped from roaming the property other than when volunteers and visitors were on the ranch. This was misleading to the Judge and Jury. Commenting about the wrong sizes of dog kennels making them sound smaller, incorrect size of the log cabin where the cats were living making it sound smaller, testimony saying the dogs were only in the dog kennel once the German Shepherd was poisoned. To this day Kara Johnson harasses and says lies to the horse community. Even admitting on Facebook what she has done over the years.
Page 726
1. In the rainy season streams of water flow from the mountain. Debbie gathered rocks on the property to direct rain water away from the dog kennels and chicken coops. The dog area had not changed in 1 ½ years and had been inspected several times by Animal Control and Animal Control had no issues with the dogs or chickens. In fact October 11, 2016 Officer Tucker inspected 11 items on the ranch that included chickens and he said chickens don’t matter. At no time before June 6, 2017 was there an issue with how the dogs were kept, exercised, size of dog kennels or water flow. Officer Middleton did make a recommendation about the type of drainage which took Craig and Debbie day and night to do before the next inspection. Officer Middleton also wanted a large dog run and to release some chickens from the large chicken coop. Which Debbie did and unfortunately once released because they were use to living in the chicken coop got ate by coyotes. Officer Middleton makes it appear the large chicken coop was small. It was large and well ventilated. Many screened in windows. Wire cages or dog crates weren’t stacked on top of each other. There was also a screened in patio area for the chickens connected to the chicken coop. There was a ladder so the chickens could go in and out at any time. Material alone cost $3,500 for Craig and Debbie to build in 2012. The chickens liked to sit on top of the roofs of other smaller chicken coops. Craig and Debbie had no knowledge of a reinspection in approximately 2 weeks other than to view the drainage around the dogs and the added dog run. This inspection was at 10:00 AM and Craig and Debbie were still doing their morning animal chores. Craig and Debbie thought Animal Control would only be like 15 minutes on the ranch just inspecting the dog area. Then they could finish their chores. Chickens were fed the night before and the 2 gallon galvanized water containers filled. There was chicken feed on the premises in metal containers under the No Smoking sign. The inside of the chicken coop contained Diatomaceous Earth (gray) known for chickens dusting off their feathers. What Officer Middleton saw was not mud or dirt. Craig had already mentioned he sprayed daily for flies but that morning he did not. Many people that don’t even have animals complain about flies. During the reinspection Edison came and turned off the electricity, the excuse the well didn’t have proper permits. They had no plans to turn back the electricity, so Craig and Debbie had no choice but to move. Once the power was shut off they went to Costco and bought 2 generators. Water was never trucked in. Craig then approximately the end of June 2017 to Animal Friends of the Valleys and met with Neil Trent the new Director and Officer Middleton and said that Craig and Debbie would be moving due to no electricity. Craig was informed there was no on going investigation.
Testimony Therron Hubbell
Defendant’s Response to Court Transcripts
Page 731
15. Therron Hubbell started coming to the ranch and volunteering May 2014. If contacted Oak Meadows Ranch by email May 19, 2014. Therron Hubbell’s last day on the ranch was November 28, 2015. If you compare the testimony in the 2 Preliminary hearing he responded differently.
Page 735
25. Therron didn’t know much about horses. DVM Charles Edgerly was at the ranch daily for several hours. DVM Charles Edgerly known at the ranch as Doc advised on how much and of what to feed the horses including supplements and medication. Doc’s granddaughter’s at that time (Lily and Abby) usually fed late afternoon.
Page 737
25. Craig never responded to Therron that horses didn’t get more food because he couldn’t afford it.
Page 738
8. Therron for a period of time was the go to person for volunteers and visitors. Craig was always the Ranch Manager. Barbara Barnaba started at the ranch May 2015. Barbara was the Equine Therapist and would be the go to person for volunteers and visitors. Barbara was also the one that did the morning feedings starting May 2015. Some late afternoon feedings. At the time Lily and Abby Doc’s granddaughters did late afternoon feeds.
Page 743
1. Craig and Debbie never had 80 to 90 horses or more horses.
2. Doc was a Licensed Veterinarian and took up refresher classes on teeth floating. DVM Charles Edgerly always checked the horses teeth. That’s why in May 2018 every horse’s teeth was examined by a Veterinarian and it was determined only 5 horses needed their teeth floated and it was done.
Page 744
1. Craig and Debbie didn’t have 80 plus horses and a farrier came out every 2 weeks. 5 horses were done at a time. Other horses were done by some sponsors.
Page 748
3. Craig and Debbie received $800 for the feed and care of Elizabeth Wiley’s 13 horses plus 1 mule that included JJ.
Page 749
9. Daily there was at least 5 volunteers mucking stalls. There was not a foot deep of manure. Kathy Smith was on the ranch daily mucking and other volunteers. In 2016 and 2017 one of the evening feeders was Aaron Waters and would have another volunteer help him and if there was not Craig would help.
Page 751
7. Granite Shield chemicals came bottled by the chemist.
Page 752
7. Craig never said the chemicals can kill you. Even household cleaning products can kill you. MSDS sheets were available. MSDS sheets were even on the computer at the office. Craig and Debbie have been around the chemicals since 2002. Packaging products. There is 3 chemists. Most of the products are water based. Nitril gloves and masks were near by.
12. There had always been available some horses available to purchase. Just not the sanctuary horses or personal horses. There was an Adoption Form on the Oak Meadows Ranch website. Horses that were rideable since there were very few or equine therapy horses were not available. Visitors came to the ranch wanting to ride horses. That’s why out of Craig and Debbie’s own money purchased rideable horses. Therron Hubbell wanted to purchase the horse Duchess that was a sanctuary horse that was used as a therapy horse.
Page 755
1. DVM Charles Edgerly checked every horse and animals for 4 years. This is what gave Doc a purpose. He enjoyed coming to the ranch everyday. He was very respected by other Veterinarians, Craig was very well trained by Doc. Doc wanted Craig to do things properly. Doc knew his license would be on the line if it wasn’t done right. Doc had no complaints about Craig. Therron did respect DVM Charles Edgerly until they got into an argument in the tipi. Therron just got back from a 2 week Teeth Floating course. Therron wanted DVM Charles Edgerly to join him teeth floating horses to start a business together. “Doc” wanted no part of that. “Doc” didn’t want Therron to teeth float any of the horses on the ranch. Doc went to medical school learning how to teeth float. The argument was so bad there’s a tradition something Native American’s do like walking the opposite way in a circle in a tipi I believe it’s to get rid of the bad spirits. From that point “Doc” and Therron only talked when needed. After the fight none of the relationships were the same. Therron was different after coming back from Teeth Floating Course. Therron and Debbie talked often and got along great during the time Therron was there. Someone accusing Oak Meadows Ranch not feeding the horses enough Therron defended the ranch. Craig and Debbie fed per Doc’s instructions. The ranch was very well stocked in medicine and Doc trained Craig how to use it. Like if a horse needing antibiotics it was on hand. Craig and Debbie purchased medicine for the ranch through Doc at Doc’s cost. Thousands of dollars worth. Still to this day Craig and Debbie have prescribed medicine that was ordered by Doc. The same applies with Paige Heatherly defending the horses are getting sufficient hay and grain. When Paige was volunteering at the ranch she would assist DVM Charles Edgerly. That’s why this is so shocking. On Therron’s birthday Jennifer Burton and Brandon Almeida threw him a birthday party. Debbie has the video.
18. There were not hundred’s of chickens in chicken coops or free range. Free range if there was hundreds you’d see hundreds running around in photos. Just like in photos inside the chicken patio area there wasn’t hundreds. You see them sitting on top of the small chicken coop roofs. There wasn’t hundreds. Different breeds of chickens molt different times of the year. The visiting ducks that would fly to the pond each morning Debbie would feed. There was about 35 then after eating most would fly away. Debbie didn’t ask Therron to feed chickens. At that time Therron was there 1 gallon plastic water containers were used. The problem with those the ground really has to be level. That’s why they were sitting on a paver. The chicken patio area had 2. Outside of the chicken coop patio area the water were spread out.
Page 756
24. There was never 9 cats in the house or the log cabin. There was 6 at the most.
Page 757
7. There was one horse named Princess and one that resembled Princess named Spirit. There was also another one named HeeLee that looked like Princess. Craig and Debbie had an Adoption Day and HeeLee and Bella were adopted out. Craig and Debbie loaded both horses in the horse trailer on October 16, 2015 and took them to their new home in Winchester. Debbie has the video.
Page 759
6. Like all horses as soon as Craig was informed something was wrong with Princess he called DVM Charles Edgerly. Craig did what DVM Charles Edgerly said to do and he rushed over. Anytime Craig and or Debbie heard there was something wrong with a horse they dropped everything to get to that horse or animal if help was needed. Debbie tried her best to be present when something happened especially if a horse needed to be put down. Debbie would have to put a lead rope on Lucky because Lucky wanted to help the horse. She knew something was wrong. Craig is very caring to horses. Giving them kisses. But he’s like that with all animals.
15. Therron was not there when it was dark. Princess was euthanized before dark. In June it’s dark around 8:30 PM. Volunteers and Visitors are not allowed on the ranch when an animal is euthanized especially one suffering from PTSD. Princess was one of Elizabeth Wiley’s horses and Debbie sent an email June 9, 2015 Princess passed away. Experiencing a horse dying or needing to be euthanized is not a good experience.
Page 760
7. June 9, 2015 at 9:25 PM Debbie wrote Elizabeth Wiley the owner of Princess saying “Hi Elizabeth I’m sorry to have to say Princess passed away this evening. She was a happy horse until the end. We are sad to see her go.” Always when there is something wrong with a human or animal Craig and Debbie go as fast as they can to see what happened and then call Doc. He always rushed over. Just like when Zeus was poisoned. Debbie called Doc right away. Doc and Lee were in Temecula and rushed to the ranch. Therron was also there standing by the feed room. Debbie was crying as Zeus was dying. Blood coming from his mouth and throwing up. Craig, Debbie, Lee and Doc rushed to an Animal Hospital in Lake Elsinore. This was November 19, 2014. Doc and Debbie were so close that approximately April 29, 2016 Debbie sensed something was wrong because Doc wasn’t at the ranch. Craig tried calling him and he wouldn’t answer. There was a scheduled board meeting. Doc was a board member. Craig called Lee. Lee was doing errands and rushed home and found Doc on the floor of the bathroom. He was then rushed to the hospital. It’s not that simple with a horse. When it’s down you can’t just pick it up and carry it to the car like a dog. The case of Princess once Craig got the call Craig rushed over. Called Doc and he said what to do until he got there. Doc has done this numerous times. Has come out like even 11:00 PM and Lee has the car headlights on. The same with Spring. Spring colicked. Doc’s granddaughter Lily was there and helped Craig. Craig did what Doc said until he got there. It was dark and Spring’s life was saved. She lived to be about 40. When she went down a Veterinarian was called and she had to be euthanized. Both times Debbie has photos and video of Spring. Numerous times on Facebook you will see horse owners ask what to do when a horse colicked. That they call numerous Veterinarian’s and they can’t come out until the next day. That’s why many have Banamine to help the horse with the pain and that’s what happened with Princess. With horses just like humans you can be fine one minute and the next minute you’re dying or dead. Debbie had a similar one with her diabetes. Debbie’s blood sugar got over 600 and was found unconscious on the bean bag in the bedroom. She was in a diabetic coma. Debbie had to be carried to the car by Brandon Almeida and drove to the hospital. Debbie almost didn’t get revived. Debbie is currently on a sensor Dexcom monitoring her blood sugar level. It goes very high and then can gets very low. Debbie didn’t know Diabetes runs on her dad’s side of the family. Debbie was diagnosed in early 2014. Debbie lost 50% of her eye sight. Like someone had a light dimmer and dimed the lights 50%. Debbie went to the doctors and was diagnosed with diabetes. For 6 weeks Debbie’s eye sight was dim. All sugars were cut out and alcohol. Then one day Debbie read that Cabernet wine is good because of the tannins. Debbie had a glass of Cabernet and ger eye sight came back immediately 100%. Debbie has worn glasses to see far since she was 13. Drinking the red wine each time she went to get an eye exam the doctor says her sight gets better and better. Debbie is sensitive to the heat since then and had to rest to have strength. There was a time when Therron was on the ranch and Debbie was very faint and Therron came over and took her blood pressure.
14. It wasn’t 11 plus hours. Princess was not like that for hours. Not that Craig and Debbie are aware of. If she would have been Craig would have asked anyone on the ranch to leave. Therron suffers from PTSD and Craig and Debbie did their best to not have things such as this to affect Therron.
Page 761
7. The last day Therron was on the ranch was at a Gymkhana event November 28, 2015. Therron and Stacey, Stacey is Therron’s wife was helping at the snack bar. Debbie just came back from the grocery store with the food and drinks. Stacey didn’t separate the different types of drinks and when Debbie suggested having cokes, diet cokes, 7 Up, water on ice instead of just coke. Stacey seemed to get a little upset. Not everyone like Coke
Page 764
8. Elizabeth Wiley the owner of JJ before he was brought to Oak Meadows Ranch numerous Veterinarians looked at JJ. Elizabeth told Craig the diagnoses. Doc agreed. Craig and Debbie were never told by a Veterinarian or Elizabeth to euthanize him and were told he’s not suffering and not in pain. This is coming from Veterinarian. This is why Elizabeth Wiley should have been called to be a witness. She could have answered a lot about Princess and JJ.
Page 765
1. During that time Barbara Barnaba was doing the majority of the feeding of the horses and dealing with the volunteers.
Page 769
13. Therron did post on Facebook that he was contacting realtors that are in rural areas to have land not to lease, rent or sell to the Phillip’s. Debbie has a copy of the Facebook page. The first day when Craig and Debbie were moving to the Hemet / Sage area Therron wrote on Facebook that he was following Craig as he was moving and posted on Facebook what he thought was their address. It wasn’t Craig and Debbie’s address but the neighbors.
Page 771
5. Kathy Smith was there every day and Barbara Barnaba feeding mucking, giving horses water. Evening Doc’s granddaughters Abby and Lily Harper. The stalls were getting mucked, fed and watered.
26. It was a volunteer ranch no one was getting paid including board of directors which was Craig and Debbie, Charles Edgerly and Scott Whan.
Page 772
5. Debbie gets business related emails numerous times during the day including for the ranch people contacting her that they’d like to volunteer. Debbie creates websites, writes on Facebook on the Oak Meadows Ranch Facebook page. Debbie takes photos and does it for free editing and uploading photos including for events at the ranch like Gymkhana’s. So yes Debbie does sit at times. It doesn’t mean she is playing games or resting. From April 2012 when the ranch began and Craig and Debbie couldn’t find a ranch hand to stay at the ranch at night Craig moved the business motorhome onto the ranch and stayed the night protecting the animals. Once Craig and Debbie took possession of the property Lucky got so attached to Caig and Debbie she didn’t want to stay at the ranch alone with the horses. She was a ranch dog. The previous renters didn’t feed her. She had to catch her own food. Craig and Debbie started feeding her dog food and taught her not to eat chickens. She was a herder. The previous renter had goats. She would herd them. They would slaughter goats and burn their fur off. Then bury their remains in a black plastic bag on the ranch. Debbie would come to the ranch at 3:00 PM normally after doing computer work at the Canyon Lake home and do ranch chores then leave at 11:00 PM to go back home to the Canyon Lake home. This went on until December 2013. Debbie purchased the 5th wheel not using any Blue Pearl Project money or donations so Craig and Debbie could be together again. Craig and Debbie were not together living at 2 different locations from April 2012 until December 2013. The 5th wheel RV made it happen being 39 ft. long, 3 slide out. The business motorhome was too small. Beginning 2005 to present Debbie has worked on the computer starting around 8:00 AM until 3:00 PM. Also since smartphones started it had made it easier for Debbie to use an iPhone and be anywhere instead of being tied down to a computer. But you can’t do everything from an iPhone.
Testimony Bill Hepburn
Defendant’s Response to Court Transcripts
Page 780
5. The exact time Serenity was found was by Debbie. No one was there. No volunteers have come yet. It was January 29, 2017 at 8:20 AM. Debbie went to Serenity calming her down. She seemed like she used all of her energy. As she was calming her down Debbie called Craig and Craig called Jim Kiesner, Jim Kiesner, Shannon Roberts and Sedona Como lived on the property in an RV. They were the horse riding instructors and helped on the ranch. Where they did live they had to move right now at 9:00 PM. Craig and Debbie got a call from Carole Pinkerton asked if Jim, Shannon and Sedona could move onto the ranch right now. Craig and Debbie said yes and helped them move their horses and RV to Oak Meadows Ranch. So when Serenity was stuck in the pipe stall Jim came over to help get her out of the pipe stall. Keep in mind around January 23, 2017 there was about 3 days of heavy rain and flooding Debbie has photos and video of it. Serenity’s stall was pretty dry considering only where she knocked over about half of her water bucket. Craig and Jim got her out of the pipe stall. Serenity was pretty weak. She improved throughout the day. Serenity between 1:00 an 1:30 PM she was doing real well she was bathed to get the mud off her. Debbie has photos. By about 6:00 PM a volunteer had her in the round pen. Serenity was acting normal. Serenity was walked back to a arena by her stall. She was fed a wet feed bucket. Debbie has a photo January 29, 2017 at 9:17 PM Serenity is sitting up and had eaten almost all her wet feed bucket. It was a very tiring day. Debbie checked on her often. Debbie didn’t eat anything to late the evening. Debbie’s blood sugar level was very low and she was ready to pass out.
Page 783
18. Craig did talk to a Veterinarian. It was a Sunday and difficult to get a Veterinarian out on a Sunday. They usually say give a shot of Banamine. I’ll be there tomorrow.
Page 789
16. Bill Hepburn was another volunteer that was disgruntled because he wanted to purchase Crimson Delight a retired race horse. She was a sanctuary horse which Craig and Debbie promised the owner they would never sell her. The owner at the time purchased and donated a stall for her.
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.
Testimony Dr. Celeste Martin
Defendant’s Response to Court Transcripts
Page 903
6. Officer Huennekens recommended Dr Moss’s office for the herd check. It was not disclosed that Dr. Martin is Officer Huennekens personal Veterinarian for her horses or that Dr. Moss is the Veterinarian for FalconRidge horse rescue that Riverside County Animal Services and Animal Friends of the Valleys take seized horses. This is a conflict of interest and should have been disclosed.
Page 909
28. A herd check was done in May 2018. Every horses mouth was opened and checked. In 2016 every horses mouth was checked. In 2018 when the herd check was done only 5 horses was it recommended for the horses to get their teeth floated which the 5 were done. In February 2019 a herd check was done by DVM Fred Zadick. DVM Zadick had no issues with the horses or animals. During the trial Veterinarian Fred Zadick wanted to testify but he had vertigo so bad he could go. Debbie even suggested to Mr. Bruggeman a Zoom call. DVM Fred Zadick was so mad the horses were seized and that there was a trial he wrote the Judge a letter. Many volunteers that were not called to testify that witnessed what this trial is about they witnessed at that time the feeding, watering, mucking, care, grooming, training and are appalled that Craig and Debbie are going through this and wrote the Judge approximately March 2024.
Page 910
7. Craig and Debbie had a herd check in May 2018. 5 horses were 7 and over weight. Placed on a weight loss. 4 horses a 6. 26 horses a 5. 16 horses a 4. 7 horses a 3 and 1 horse a 2 which was Callie a 40 year old horse. It was recommended Callie have bloodwork. It wasn’t recommended she be euthanized. 1 horse that was a 3 had sand in the belly. 2 horses that’s a 3 to increase food. 4 get a teeth float 1 already had. Every horse was checked. Every mouth was checked. Only 5 horses were recommended to have their teeth floated which they were done. DVM Charles Edgerly checked the horses mouth in 2016 and whatever was needed he did, between 2016 to 2018 in 2018 only 5 horses were recommended to get their teeth floated. Which they were done. DVM Edgerly trained Craig and Debbie about when a horse needs only wet feed which they do. There was a herd check in February 2019.
Page 915
1. 2021 was colder, wetter, snowy, windy, more than usual. At 2600 ft on top of a mountain gets very windy and in this case knocking over horse shade covers, trees, kids swing sets, blows shingles off roofs, blows down horse tack sheds. It was still in the 30’s and 40’s into May. Most of the horses still had their winter coats. It is known horses lose weight in the winter months because they burn off calories to stay warm. These horses their feed was never decreased only increased including alfalfa and grain. At the time Diamond Valley Feed their hay wasn’t to Craig and Debbie’s standards and it was purchased somewhere else. Debbie has photos of the severe weather which should have been introduced in court.
The majority of the horses from other Veterinarians that have viewed the horses in the past the horses were 5’s and 4’s. Only approximately 10 looked thinner and probably due to the cold their feed doubled. All the horses their feed increased. Never decreased. When Dr. Lindsay Crowley Hower came out July 15, 2021 and she had no concerns. She said the horses weight ranged from 2 which is Callie to 5/9.
Page 917
10. Many times the donkeys would have to be placed on a diet including the mini horses. Once they began shedding in May 2021 it was noticed they were thinner and their feed was doubled.
Page 922
You can place a rubber mat in a horses stall and they will move their hay to be on the dirt. Most horses if you drive around the horses eat off of dirt and if they have a shade cover they don’t use it. They like to sun bath and stand in the rain.
Page 924
Craig and Debbie were taught by DVM Charles Edgerly preventative ways to lessen colic such as hosing down the hay.
Page 925
1. Craig and Debbie disagree that there was 33 horses a 3 or below. Debbie has photos the majority of horses that are 5’s and 4’s. When Dr. Crowley Hower came out she was not concerned about the weight of the horses. She came out right after Dr. Martin and noted on her report no horse appears to be abused or neglected. Have her come back out in 6 months.
Page 926
1. Diamond Valley Feed was just down the road. Craig and Debbie easily can hook up the trailer which they did to buy hay or grain. Normally purchased 3 days worth of hay and grain. Hay is very flammable. It gets brown quick. Diamond Valley Feed at times wasn’t having the best hay. The horses were in 5 very large pastures and 21 horse stalls. Craig and Debbie didn’t just have alfalfa and alfa horse pellets and senior feed on hand. There is always rice bran and 3 way or oats. Debbie has hundreds of photos of the golf cart for feeding stacked high of hay bales feeding horses. There was no competition or fighting for hay or grain.
2. Craig responded saying he would have to ask his wife. Many of the horses they had promised the previous owners that the horses are retired, a sanctuary horse to never be sold. Having the horses some since 2012 Craig and Debbie should be able to decide which horses they can sell if someone asks them.
18. Craig and Debbie had some horses up for sale. 1 for $2,000 that the person was just about to pick up and another for $1,500 that that person was going to pick up. After the herd check by Dr. Martin Craig and Debbie were told they were not to sell any horses. There had been an ad on Craigslist selling some horses until they were told they could not sell any of the horses.
24. Craig and Debbie’s farrier had gotten ill and his daughter was having mental issues but there was during that time trimming hooves. One came from Bonsal. Between May 2021 and October 2021 they had had 3 different farriers trimming hooves. Mr. Bruggeman did have an email for at least 1 year of those farrier receipts and in the 5 inch binder. Horses hooves were being trimmed. Teeth floating was done May 2018. The next herd check was done in 2019.
Page 935
1. It’s the personal opinion of Dr. Martin that it was a hoarding situation. In 2017 the ranch stopped taking in horses and was selling some of the horses. Several of the horses were purchased from Craig and Debbie and were personal horses. Many the previous horse’s owners spent thousands of dollar for the horses such as Trooper a hunter jumper that the previous owner paid $200,000 for. One such as Gorgeous George $8,000. Several such as Goldie the Palomino Parade horse $3,500. The previous owner was promised by Craig and Debbie the horse would never be sold. A couple of the horses the previous owner never wanted the horse sold such as Little Charlie the previous owner was promised should Craig and Debbie no longer want the horse that they were to give him back.
8. Craig and Debbie had been rescuing horses since 2012 and had 4 years of training in the care of horses by a highly respected Veterinarian Charles Edgerly. They were trained like a Vet Tech would be.
16. Debbie has hundreds of photos the majority of the horses were not underweight. They were walked, exercised and groomed. Dr. Celeste Marin is a conflict of interest and should never have been recommended by Lt. Huennekens. Dr. Martin works for Dr. Moss at Temecula Creek Veterinary. Dr. Moss is also the Veterinarian for FalconRidge horse rescue which is where Lt. Huennekens would seize the horses and take approximately 30 horse to FalconRidge. Currently Dr. Martin is Board of Director and Veterinarian to another horse rescue Sale Ranch. It is a conflict of interest for an Animal Control officer to recommend a certain Veterinary office and one of the Veterinarian is like the personal Veterinarian for Lt. Huennekens personal horses and then seize the horses and then send them to a horse rescue where in this case Dr. Moss would be the Veterinarian. This should have been disclosed when recommending Dr. Moss. There was at least $100,000 market value horses seized when just after Dr. Martin examined these horses. Just alone Craig and Debbie’s personal Tennessee Walking horses would cost at least $5,000 each now to replace. Many of the horses could sell for a minimum of $2,000 each. Dr. Moss’s office was notified and they called Craig and recommended a Vet of his choice which was Mt. Laramie and refunded the fee and said he discussed with Animal Control to pull the report. Mt. Laramie’s office was immediately called and an appointment was scheduled and she had no concerns about the health of the horses.
Testimony Dr. Allan Drusys
Defendant’s Response to Court Transcripts
Page 955
2. The cats were in a 8 x 10 insulated log cabin with a vent on the roof under a 200 year old oak tree. Allan Drusys was provided with incorrect information.
Testimony Allan Drusys
Defendant’s Response to Court Transcripts
Page 961
18. The bale of is the biggest available.
Page 964
1. Before JJ came to Oak Meadows Ranch the owner Elizabeth Wiley had JJ looked at by several Veterinarians. This is why Elizabeth should have been called to testify. It was determined by Veterinarians JJ was not in pain or suffering. Once JJ came to Oak Meadows Ranch he was under the care of DVM Charles which he agreed JJ was not in pain and wasn’t suffering. Volunteer Kathy Smith would clean his leg and do what Charles Edgerly recommended doing for JJ.
Page 967
1. Debbie has photos and videos of Myrtle and Poppy when they arrived to Oak Meadows Ranch. They were put into temporary quarantine. Then they would be moved to a 24 x 48 stall. They were approximately 40 years old and had no reason to be taken to an arena such is what Melodee did. No one ever told Debbie that Poppy had an issue. That was one of the problems with Melodee she would only tell Craig. Debbie did tell whatever Melodee tells Craig Debbie needs to know. June 2, 2017 when Animal Control came to visit Debbie knew nothing about an issue with Poppy other than it appeared she was mourning her companion Myrtle. On June 2, 2017 when Craig was in Utah helping his sick Dad Debbie when doing her morning drive around the ranch checking on horses etc. It was a habit when Debbie was checking on the ranch in the morning she would take photos and videos which Debbie did take a video of Poppy. Poppy had already eaten and was resting. Debbie didn’t think anything was unusual.
Page 969.
1. Officer Middleton gave incorrect information on the dog kennel sizes. There were 8 outside dog kennels. Dog kennels that had not changed in 1 ½ years inspected several times by Animal Control. Animal Control never had an issue with the dog kennels. 2 were heavy duty 10 x 10. 1 a chain link 10 x 10 and 4 5 x 10. 1 4 x 16 where the Pomeranians were taken out first thing in the morning. Left out for about 1 hour then brought in then repeat afternoon then evening. All had Igloo dog houses on concrete pavers. A couple of them had pavers and horse rubber mat. None had dirt. They had wind screens, each 20 quart horse bucket for water, misters. Hosed out around 6 AM then repeat around 10 AM repeat around 3 PM repeat in the evening. River rock was placed around the exterior part of the pavers directing rain water when it rains. Debbie picked up every river rock from around the ranch and placed them around the dog kennels. Debbie did the same thing around the chicken coops directing rain water. Right before Animal Control came the outside dog kennels were hosed out. When Craig and Debbie left approximately 10 AM June 6, 2017 there was no visible feces.
5. There was a separation between dog kennels. It was on a hill. The kennels were cleaned with bleach once a week. The river rocks directed the water so the way it was set up water from other kennels weren’t going into the other dog kennels.
21. There were 5 to 7 pound Pomeranians in dog crates big enough for both to stand up and turn around and still have more room. They were all spayed and neutered. Mom, Dad, Adult brothers and sisters that choose who they want to sleep with. When Craig and Debbie were there the dog crate was left open. It was for their safety to be with a closed crate door because someone kept opening and closing any door on the ranch letting animals out when Craig and Debbie weren’t there.
Page 970
1. It was a 39 ft luxury 5th wheel with 3 slide outs. It has 2 air conditioners that you can set the temperature which it was always set at 72. It had a ceiling vent had would open and close automatically. The sq ft was as big as a 1 bedroom apartment. More incorrect information Officer Middleton stated.
4. The Pomeranians were on bath size large clean bath towels from Walmart not hand towels. There was 1 German Shepherd in an appropriate size dog crate for a German Shepherd. He hurt his paw and he was inside to stay off his foot. All had water. There was not 2 German Shepherds inside the RV in a dog crate.
Page 971
1. The outside dogs were security dogs that ran the ranch 3 at a time. At night when they weren’t patrolling they slept inside the 5th wheel RV. The photo in court was not the 5th wheel RV it was a 24 ft business motorhome.
17. The chickens layed eggs. They were pets to Debbie and from April 2012 eating their eggs or selling their eggs was not a priority. Some asked to buy them and at a time around 2014 Debbie did but there wasn’t much interest from visitors so Debbie stopped. Not worth the hassle. To Debbie she was interested in baby chicks hatching and selling adult size purebred chickens. Not interested in selling baby chicks. Usually Debbie would trade an adult size hen for something. From January 2017 to June 2017 a live in ranch hand was caring for the chickens and other animals in exchange for free rent. The ranch hand would give the chickens water daily in a 2 gallon galvanized water container purchased each for approximately $28 dollars from Tractor Supply. Each chicken coop had 1. The large chicken coop with the screened in patio area had 2. The upside down Sparklets water bottle hadn’t been used for approximately 6 months it was broken. The ranch hand would clean out the chicken coops and put the manure in empty horse grain 50 pound bags. The chicken manure was purchased by gardeners. Under the No Smoking sign was 3 metal trash cans. 1 contained Chicken Scratch, 1 Chicken Lay Mash and 1 Diatomaceous earth which is gray. An empty chicken scratch bag would be placed on top of the Chicken Scratch and Chicken Lay Mash to protect the feed from moisture or rain. Near by was a bag of pine shavings. Inside the chicken coops pine shavings and diatomaceous earth.
Page 972
1. The chicken coops were well ventilated. The smaller ones a 2 story and the upper level windows and drilled hole openings. The large chicken coop had many screened in windows. The chicken door was open to the chicken patio area so they could decide if they wanted to in or out.
Page 974
15. Craig and Debbie always had Banamine available. Craig was trained by DVM Charles Edgerly how to administrate a shot. DVM Charles Edgerly trained Craig on colic and when its time to call a Veterinarian.
28. Craig and Debbie buy the powered form of Bute.
Page 986
7. Giving mineral oil before and after colic has helped many horses.
14. Craig and Debbie have experienced a well know Veterinarian kill a horse giving a gallon of mineral oil.
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
