subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Tue, Feb 09 2010 

Published June 29, 2009 10:12 pm - GIRARD, Kan. — McCune Mayor Don Call, who has maintained that he was justified in shooting a resident’s two dogs, was bound over for trial after a preliminary hearing Monday in Crawford County District Court.

Judge orders mayor to stand trial in deaths of resident’s two dogs



By Andra Bryan Stefanoni

news@joplinglobe.com

GIRARD, Kan. — McCune Mayor Don Call, who has maintained that he was justified in shooting a resident’s two dogs, was bound over for trial after a preliminary hearing Monday in Crawford County District Court.

Call is charged with two felony counts of cruelty to animals and one misdemeanor count of illegal discharge of a firearm in connection with the deaths of the dogs in February at a home in McCune.

Call entered pleas of innocent as District Judge Don Nolan questioned him on each of the three counts.

Crawford County Attorney Michael Gayoso said felony charges were filed because he believes the dogs were killed maliciously.

McCune’s dog ordinance, adopted in 2006, states that dogs running at large are subject to impoundment, and that no dogs may be “disposed of until after a minimum of three business days of custody.”

According to reports filed in February with the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department and restated by Nolan during the hearing, witnesses said Call fired three times from his vehicle, driving around the block between each time. Evidence submitted during the hearing included the 9 mm rifle allegedly used by Call.

“That was an act that took some degree of time,” Nolan said before ruling that there was sufficient evidence that Call be bound over for trial on all three counts.

“If you acted with maliciousness, that is to be determined by trial,” Nolan told Call.

Leaving the courthouse, Call was surrounded by about 10 supporters who attended the hearing. Public opinion, in the form of letters to the editor and to Gayoso’s office, has been both for and against the charges filed against Call.

Call said in February that he killed the dogs because of a report that the animals were chasing a neighbor’s children. He turned himself in to law enforcement after a warrant for his arrest was issued.

He did not seek re-election as mayor in April, but 98 write-in votes kept him in office. The only candidate on the ballot, Debbie Rennie, received 36 votes.

After the hearing, Call declined to comment, deferring to his attorney, Rick Smith, who said the outcome of the hearing “was not unexpected.”

“We have the right to present our case at trial, and that’s what we’ll do,” Smith said.



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story







autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

Announcements

Click here!!

: Special Offer For New Subscribers : 32 buy 1 get 1 free offers

Click Here!


Featured Jobs

RECEPTIONIST
busy law office seeking full-time receptionist. Previous experience required, mulit-tasking, computer skills, and great ...>MORE

FRONT LOADER
driver needed, local routes, experienced driver preferred. Class B license required. Pay $10-$11 per hour. Call for inte...>MORE

LPN FOR MDS COORDINATOR
LPN FOR MDS Coordinator, experience required. Apply at Seneca House, 914 Chickesaw, Seneca, MO or call Holly at 417-776...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Transportation

PONTIAC, 1999 SUNFIRE
148,000 miles, $2750. (417)540-9986...>MORE

SATURN, 2001 SC-2
154,000 miles, $2850. (417)540-9986...>MORE

2001 GRAND PRIX
Richard Petty Special Edition Package, $4995/offer. 417-317-2000....>MORE

CHEVROLET, 1999 MONTE CARLO
169,000 miles, $2750. (417)540-9986...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

VALENTINES GIFT
Unique Gorgeous Valentines Gift
1112 W. 5th, Joplin. Approximaitely 2200 sq. ft, could be 4,000 sq. ft. 3 br, 2 ba
...>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

FOR SALE DOBERMAN PUPS

6 males and 1 female, date of birth 1-18-2010 all black and rust, mom and dad for more information please call Je
...>MORE

MINI SCHNAUZER
4 months, male, $75 with papers and accessories. (417)434-8830....>MORE

APR FRENCH BULLDOG

14 week old female. Brindle with white markings. $900. 417-540-7490
...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

 

 

The Joplin Globe Electronic Edition