Wiles gets suspended sentence in animal cruelty case

June 03, 2008|By ERIN JULIUS

HAGERSTOWN - A man who has been in the news over the past several years for owning two cloned cows and their offspring pleaded guilty Monday morning to two felony counts related to the death of two cows.

Gregory Charles Wiles, who was charged with five felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty in connection with 31 cows seized and impounded by the Humane Society of Washington County in December 2007, won't serve any time in jail. But as one of several conditions of his three-year probation, Wiles may not own or possess any livestock.

Wiles, 41, also pleaded guilty to 13 misdemeanor counts of failing to provide for several cows.

Washington County Circuit Judge W. Kennedy Boone III sentenced Wiles to three years for each of the two felony counts and 90 days for each of the misdemeanors, with all sentences concurrent. Boone then suspended the sentences.

Wiles is not allowed to own or take care of any livestock during the three years of his probation.

The Humane Society of Washington County in December 2007 seized 34 cows - 15 Holstein heifers from a pasture on College Road in the Hagerstown area, and 18 cows and one dead cow from a pasture on Neck Road in the Williamsport area.

Two of the cows taken from the College Road property died Dec. 7 and were taken to a state lab for a necropsy.

Humane Society officials responded to the properties after receiving complaints about the cows' conditions, Paul Miller, executive director, said Monday after the court hearing.

The Humane Society currently has 26 adult cows and one new calf, spokeswoman Katherine Cooker said Monday afternoon. None of those cows were cloned animals, Miller said.

As part of the plea agreement, Wiles forfeited to the Humane Society ownership of the cows seized. Humane Society officials have sole discretion regarding the fate of the animals, and any money from the sales of the cows will be applied to about $22,000 in restitution Wiles owes, the judge said.

Wiles must disclose the location of any livestock owned by him or his family within 10 days and must report any transfer of livestock to a third party that occurred after Dec. 6, 2007, Boone ordered.

Miller said he asked for that condition of probation because he received information that there were more cows at other locations but has not been able to locate them.

Anyone interested in adopting or purchasing any of the cows can call the Humane Society at 301-733-2060 ext. 237.

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