Rosetown Court: $2,500 fine in animal neglect case

EAGLE STAFF

A man was fined $2,500 for neglecting animals near Harris during the Feb. 12 provincial court session in Rosetown.

Christian Meither, 27, then of Saskatoon, pleaded guilty by phone to causing animals to be in distress.

Animal protection workers attended a farm site near Harris on March 4 and 6, 2024. After seeing no sign the animals had been fed or watered, they obtained a search warrant, Crown prosecutor Tom O’Hara told court during the session at the Elks Hall.

Inside a home on the property, officers found cats and dogs in “unsanitary conditions,” as well as two goats outside in “fair condition” and three outdoor cats with food and water.

However, they also discovered the carcasses of 65 dead “mixed fowl, mostly chickens” on the property, O’Hara said.

A veterinarian examined the surviving animals and “all were fine after that,” he added.

Meither told Judge Miguel Martinez he had “asked one of the local fellows” to look after the animals while he travelled to Alberta, but his vehicle broke down and he remained there for more than a week.

In addition to the fine, Meither is prohibited from living at any Saskatchewan home or property that contains animals for 10 years. Under an Animal Protection Act maintenance order, he must also allow any peace officer to enter any Saskatchewan residence where he is living to ensure compliance.

Other cases heard Feb. 12 in Rosetown provincial court:

• Ishanbha M. Patel, 37, of Saskatoon was fined $300 instead of $570 after reaching a deal with the prosecutor to plead guilty to driving 85 km/h instead of 90 km/h in a 50-km/h zone on Oct. 8. Police had alleged he was travelling at least 35 km/h over the limit.

• Junxiang Zhang, 20, of Calgary was fined $300 for driving an unregistered vehicle near Rosetown on Oct. 11. The voluntary payment had been $580.

• Garet Olynick, 38, of Rose Valley must pay $296 for driving 134 km/h in the Rural Municipality of St. Andrews on Aug. 29.

• Chieruech Thomas, 24, of Calgary was fined $206 for driving 108 km/h in an 80-km/h zone near Rosetown on Oct. 11. Another speeding charge from the same day was withdrawn.

• Sayed S. Masoodian, 25, of Saskatoon was fined $204 after Judge Martinez entered a default conviction when the accused failed to answer his phone twice regarding his ticket. Police stopped him driving 127 km/h near Tessier on Aug. 9.

• T. William Decker, 57, of Rosetown was fined $198 for driving 104 km/h in an 80-km/h zone near Rosetown on Nov. 9.

• Abdul W. Raja, 23, of Calgary was fined $178 instead of $196 after pleading guilty to driving 114 km/h in a 100-km/h zone. Police had recorded his speed at 123 km/h.

• Geeno Jose, 39, of Elrose was convicted after trial of failing to wear a seatbelt and fined $175.
  An RCMP officer on a motorcycle testified he saw Jose without a seatbelt on May 30 as the officer turned his Harley-Davidson off Main Street in Elrose, passing Jose, who was waiting at the First Avenue intersection. A video shown in court did not clearly show whether the seatbelt was on at the time of the stop but showed Jose without the restraint after the officer followed him.

• Sukhpreet Singh, 24, of Calgary was fined $170 instead of $198 after pleading guilty to driving 114 km/h instead of 124 km/h near McGee on Oct. 1.