Darcelle Cowles of Kilgore, Texas has been arrested not once, but twice and held on a 30,000 bond...all because she helped rescue a stray dog.
Once the dog was in rescue, blood work and a physical exam by a vet found the Great Pyrenees to be over 40 pounds underweight and high heartworm positive. Animal Control Officer Natalie Smith filed charges of theft for the Pyrenees and trespassing for feeding starving puppies after the "owner" came forward demanding the dog back.
Darcy did not know where the dog was or which group her friend had him sent to so she refused to return the dog, because it was in need of medical treatment, and alerted the media of her situation. Officer Smith then filed third degree felony charges on Cowles for tampering with evidence and had her arrested again. Office Smith stated the reason for the charges was because the "owner" stepped up and claimed that the dog was "show quality".
In spite of the fact the owner did not have the money to pay for heartworm treatment, Officer Smith tracked down the dog in the rescue community and returned it to the owner who continues to allow the dog to run free on Hwy 31. We do not even know if treatment was ever rendered to the animal. Officer Smith remarked that it was the rescue who starved to dog, not the owner. Now Officer Smith has stated that she will shut down every rescue in Smith County and that she will make an example out of Cowles.
The attorney Darcy hired has been trying to contact Justice of the Peace Lemmert for over two weeks to get a court date set and there has been no response. Lemmert is in the same offices as ACO Smith and her counterparts. Darcy has paid over $10,000 just in bail money, not to mention drug testing three times a week which is also part of being arrested on felony charges. She has been the victim of an unjust search of her property after ACO Smith and the Sheriff's department searched her house , her purse, all her personal items and her property for 3 hours looking for this dog. The D.A. also filed a restraining order against Cowles prohibiting her near the dog, the property, or Animal Control Officers. Please let the courts know that we will not stand for someone to made an "example" of when there has been no crime committed. They are wasting their time and our tax money on a Good Samaritan!
There are people all over the state of Texas like DeShawn Brown who are busy stabbing dogs and lighting them on fire with gasoline and bail out at $250.00, but they would rather prosecute someone trying to help like Darcy Cowles. Ask Judge Lemmert to respond attorney Kyle Beale of Scammahorn Beale Law Firm. Demand Justice for Darcy Cowles.
Contact information for Judge Lemmert is available in the target information if you would like to send a letter in addtion to signing this petition.
