State-Journal.com - Man pleads guilty to 13 counts of animal cruelty

A former Franklin County animal control officer pleaded guilty to 13 counts of second-degree cruelty to animals Thursday in Franklin District Court.

Derek A. Rayborn, 29, of 4010 St. Johns Road, was sentenced to six months in jail by Judge Kathy Mangeot. He will have to serve 30 days, beginning Feb. 1, and the remaining five months will be suspended on several conditions.

Those conditions include that Rayborn not own or have any dogs in his possession for two years; not participate in any kennel clubs or dog-related events; and have no other criminal offenses for two years.

Rayborn also received a $6,500 fine ($500 on each count), but that was also suspended on the same conditions.

In the plea agreement, one count of harboring a vicious animal was dismissed.

Thirteen pit bull dogs were seized from Rayborn's property on Jan. 3 by current county Animal Control Officer Todd Moore. It was the second time in nine months a large number of pit bulls were seized in connection with animal cruelty charges.

A trial was set for Rayborn Thursday on one count each of animal cruelty and harboring a vicious animal " charges stemming from 2007. Then he would have still had to face the multiple animal cruelty charges from 2008 later.

"We were ready to go to trial but Derek, in the last minute, did what he thought was best for his family," said Chris Olds, Rayborn's attorney, after Thursday's plea and sentencing. "He knew the potential was there to face a lot of jail time and he didn't want to take that chance.

"I don't think this was a situation where Derek was intentionally trying to hurt any dogs. I think he had taken in more dogs than what he could take care of. I think he did the best he could."

Olds said Rayborn took in rescue dogs because he was afraid if not they would go to the Franklin County Humane Society's animal shelter, "and possibly have to be euthanized. So I think he was trying to do the right thing but he wasn't able to adequately take care of the dogs he had."

Franklin County Attorney Rick Sparks said he was satisfied with the plea agreement.

"It accomplished the goals I had, which were to punish for the conduct and to ensure to the extent I could that Mr. Rayborn not have any dogs in the future," Sparks said.

Both times the pit bulls were seized from Rayborn, they were boarded at the local animal shelter.

Regina Mitchell, manager of the animal shelter, said she is satisfied with the plea agreement, "as long as (Rayborn) is monitored and abides by the conditions given to him. I feel justice was met for the animals. Franklin County citizens just need to keep their eyes open for this type of activity done to animals. It's especially important for the well being of the animals right now with the weather being so cold."

Mitchell said the shelter is closed today, as it was Thursday, because of the cold weather, "so the animals can all be inside the building with heat and plenty of blankets and food and water. We will reopen on Saturday."

68.	Posted by Elaine January 30, 2008
	You know, this is just the beginning of the bad things to come when the "animal rights wingnuts" start getting their laws passed. These dogs were not abused, they had NO frostbite. In fact I have one of the dogs they left at Mr. Rayborn's (I guess because she was too fat and healthy). The pictures that were in the paper were staged to make the dogs look a lot worse than they were. Know the facts before you start to crucify anyone. I can tell you that the dogs I have from Mr. Rayborn's yard have no frostbite and are very healthy. They have become part of my pack here. I have seen the horrors that have been done by shelters "in the name of saving animals" and I have seen good dogs ruined by the "do gooders". If you don't think so, just watch WLKY chan. 32 out of Louisville and see what Taylor County Animal Control did to dogs that were taken in a "cruelty" case. The cruelty did not happen on the yard of Mrs. Coy, it happened at the shelter.

66.	Posted by AlphaDogRescue January 28, 2008
	Derek is 100% right about the lack of care The Franklin Co. Human Society and local animal control has for animal welfare. I've had my dealings with both and have never been treated so rude in my life. Back in November several cats in the area went missing, I went to the humane society to try and find confirm if my cats were there or not. When i arrived they was having a spay and Neuter clinic and the adoption center was closed. I nicely tried to explain to the ladies at the desk what was going on and was rudely told to come back on tues. they was closed to the public (this was on a Sat.) I told them over and over that i understood the adoption part was closed but all i wanted was someone to check for me to see if they was there so i wouldn't have to worry for 3 days about my pets. I was again told to leave and come back that i should have came on friday. At this point my daughter is standing there crying her eyes out and screaming for her kitties and my temper is boiling. Things started to get heated and i tried to explain these were family pets and my daughter was very upset there were 4 people standing there doing nothing and it wouldn't take 2 minutes to walk into the back and just take a look. She again refused and asked me to leave. This women was the rudest bitch i have meet in my life and at this point i picked my daughter up and told her to look her in the eyes and tell her to come back tues. She turned her head away and said if you don't leave i'm calling the police. At this point i told her she had no business working with animals and i hope she don't have children. again she threaten to call the police so i offered to wait in the parking lot until they arrived. I wanted her to explain to a cop why she was being so rude. I went outside put my daughter in the car and stood there telling everyone what was going on and to avoid this place. Well at this point a crowd is gathering and shocked by whats going on the lady keeps yelling out the door leave now or i'm calling the cops. after about 20 minutes the crowd from the clinic had cleared out so i again walked inside and tried to talk to someone else about what was going on, this is 30 minutes before there normal closing time the clinic cats are gone at this point and there just standing around, i asked a diffrent lady and she turned to walk and look when the original bitch rounds the corner and goes of "i told you were not doing anything for you until tues" you need to leave now the cops are on there way. So i finally gave up and left. As i was pulling out a cop car was pulling in! When my cat was finally recovered from the humane society it was so sick from sitting in that hell hole it cost $200 in vet bills just to get her well. Derek may of took on more animals then ho could handle at one time but being he was trying to protect them from the animal hell down by the river then i give him credit for that!

63.	Posted by D-Rex January 27, 2008
	Ella, You are 100% correct! Now keep in mind the people in office now are completely different from when I was there, But I would say the game remains the same!! I reported a Dead dog in a Kennel I saw on August 24, 2007... If you know how you can pull the dispatch records and check and see I am 100% telling the truth!! THE DOG LAID THERE DEAD FOR 2 MORE DAYS!!! August 27, 2007 I went on their land and burried the dog myself!!! The call was never answered! It was a young Beagle. Now if it had been a/an American Pit Bull Terrier, they would have been there with a/an arrest warrent! Mr. Moore Arrested 2 other people in the 2 months prior to my court date, because they owned American Pit Bull Terriers! Without the dogs attacking or acting aggressive he charged them with harboring a vicious animal! There is No such thing as Justice in Franklin County Kentucky!! When it comes to animals!!! Those who tried to help, get prosecuted, those who just want to turn their animals loose and allow them to do as they please get patted on the back, by lying about people like me. I doubt he reads this, but he knows who he is! I counted this morning on my way out to town, and I counted 22 dogs running at large that Todd Moore HAD to PASS BY to get to my house!! You think he'll say anything to those people. I doubt it!! Not to mention there is a LEASH LAW in Franklin County. I once answered a call in Willowcrest, and the dog was alittle thin. Well instead of doing my best to arrest the girl, and harrass & embaress her, I sat down with her for a few minutes, talked to her, then when I found out she was having problems, financially, and didn't want to turn the family pet over, I went and got her a couple bags of dog food, and helped her out. Mr. Moore will not be doing this I can tell you that!! I remember one time I got in trouble for saving a cats life. Keep in mind I do not like cats particuarly!! I am highly allergic to the bateria they carry under their claws... But anyway... I answered a call in the trailor park over off of Georgetown rd. About a cat that had been hit by a car. I went picked the cat up, I remember like yesterday, he was a Great big black cat. Me and Shane Weber took him to Dr. King. Dr. King told me it was up to me to save the cat or to put it down. I asked him if he would live or not... Dr. King said he could save it, but warned me they (Franklin Co. Human Society) would get mad. I told him to save it anyway. Well when they found out they WENT NUTS!! Liegh McCarthy (Board of Directors for Franklin Co. Humane Society), scolded me on wasting money on injured animals!! But I could not in good conscience allow a/an animal to die for nothing. Even though I don't care for cats, he had the right to live if it wasn't his time to go! Shane Weber only said "I can't tell you what to do, it's up too you!" But he was proud when I stuck by my descision! He's a great guy, and loves all animals, so he understood. I would hit someone in the mouth for bad talking Shane!!