A former WCAX news anchor found himself on the wrong side of a perp walk on Tuesday.
George Wilson (pictured) was charged with animal cruelty for allegedly keeping horses locked up inside dark stalls on his Shelburne property for years, and letting several other animals die. The 63-year-old was arraigned in Chittenden County Superior Court, under the gaze of local news reporters who used to be his colleagues.
Chittenden County State’s Attorney T.J. Donovan cited Wilson into court Friday, in part because he said Wilson owns guns and made threatening remarks to police investigating the cruelty. A judge ordered Wilson to forfeit the weapons.
According to a police affidavit, Wilson owns a high-powered rifle and made a “bee line” toward it after discovering law enforcement on his property January 15, but he was intercepted by an officer. Shelburne police officer Michael Thomas wrote that before Wilson headed for the gun, he said, “I want everyone to leave or someone is going to get hurt.”
Clarendon-based Spring Hill Horse Rescue, which removed two mares and a stallion from Wilson’s property on January 15, called it “the worst case of abuse and neglect we have ever seen.” The group said it found the horses — named Willie, Dolly and Lolly — standing in several feet of manure, almost blind from lack of sunlight, covered in lice and barely able to stand on badly overgrown hooves. They also found bags of bones from dead horses. (Click here for photos and more background.)
At Wednesday’s arraignment, Wilson joked with news crews lined up to film his perp walk. “It’s funny being on this side, isn’t it?” Wilson called out to a WCAX photographer before his arraignment. Afterward, he complimented Burlington Free Press reporter Mike Donoghue for being the first to confirm his identity as the owner of the horses.
But Wilson vigorously defended himself against the charges, pleading not guilty and saying he never threatened anyone. He denied he ever went for his gun. “I never did. It never came to my mind and I’m just unhappy that we had a large invasion force come onto our property without any notice. Who would like that? It’s as if the aliens landed at your house, took your dog, cat, your wife and absconded with them.”
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Got bring the gun agenda into it, huh? That is just total BS. I am for the animals. I think these people should be treated just as they treated their horses. But for 7day to pander to the liberal crowd by bringing up guns, that is beyond the pale.
Did it occur to you that the police and prosecutors are the ones who “brought up guns”? It is quite newsworthy when someone who is being arrested rushes to get a gun and makes threats against police officers. Demanding that the media not report on that because it might offend some in the gun crowd is total BS.
Sharon, it’s not Seven Days that brought guns into this — it was TJ Donovan, who said clearly in the article that the main reason he cited Wilson into court when he did was because he had guns and made threatening comments toward police. Nobody is pandering here — we’re just reporting the facts, ma’am.
What a warped moral compass. Is repeating a police report more unacceptable than the worst case of animal cruelty reported in the past few years? Think before answering that one.
Just drive by their property and you will understand what pigs these people are. Junk cars, falling down barns and a collapsing house, all on what used to be a beautiful property. Ann Gilbreth is listed at the Arabian Horse Association as an owner/breeder and is known to the community (but not in a positive way). The horse community here is strong and information flows quickly. He can’t “blame” Spring Hill for getting the word out, it became common knowledge pretty fast. And he says “alleged” cruelty?? Is he serious?? Yes, they are both mentally unsound, no question. By the way, Spring Hill desparetly needs a round pen (a 60′ round pen made of strong gate-like panels that are 6′ high) to get these horses some outside time. They need to be transitioned slowly as they haven’t been outside in years. I know George and Ann have one on the property. It needs to be sent to Spring Hill asap.
I agree…I think Wilson’s punishment should be to lock him in a darkened narrow pen until lice covers his unmanicured body and then made to stand in his own s**** for several years.
The fact that he went for his gun, if he did, IS relevant to his mental state, and his menace not only to livestock but to the community at large. He should see jail time and pay dollars. Had he been growing marijuana, he could have had his whole property SEIZED…what is the worse crime here?
The B.S. about the rescue org. making the most of this to get donations is just that – BS: they didn’t doctor the photos of those horses.
Man up and take responsibility instead of heading for your rifle or your lawyer to hide behind….
Man up and take responsibility and stop hiding behind a rifle or a lawyer. The rescue group have every right to make this public and illustrate what goes on in our state.
This is sad beyond words. People should NOT be allowed to get away with this. Makes me sick…..
This is a guy who shouldn’t own horses, cats, dogs, guns, or anything else that won’t fit inside a 6′ x 8′ concrete cell.
The state of Vermont routinely allows horrible animal abuse to occur. Perps are never prosecuted, animals (who did not die as a result) are rescued by wonderful organizations like Spring Hill Rescue and life goes on. This state has let so many child/animal/everything else abusers go free in a misguided attempt at what? Might I mention Michael Jaques, the man who raped and murdered his niece? He was released by the state after RAPING someone.
There is a guy on 116, south of Hinesburg, who has let his mini horses and donkeys breed and (in)breed and (in)breed for many years. If anyone says anything about the fact that all of their feet look like the horses in the Shelburne case, he goes out and shoots them. Yep, Vermont is an agricultural state and cares about its animals. GAH.
Lets hope that Mr Donavan gets to the bottom of any coverup by Shelburne authorities, and whoever their boss was at the time…NO doughnuts for Shelburne’s finest. And if you want to know who this woman is…just google cheaper by the dozen. No kidding. This is that Ann Gilbreth
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C…
so, I am assuming this farm you write of has been brough to the attention of powers that be? Now I cannot stop thinking about these donkeys and minis…
Justice For Wilson
Let the man sit in a dark, cold cage filled with a foot of human waste, skeletal remains and lice (after his feet have been cast in cement). Let him sit there and endure what his animals did until someone feels sorry enough about his condition to set him free. I feel discomfort for wishing the same cruelty upon this man, that he displayed for his animals, but that is how I would handle Mr Wilson in a “perfect world.” He is lucky to live in an age of the justice system and not in the times of an eye for an eye. People who have no regard for animal life often are dangerous to human life. People need to report animal abuse/ neglect, and persist until action is taken.
can you share where this farm is on rt. 116?
I second that emotion –absolutely what I was thinking!
I lived on the farm with George and Ann when I was a UVM student in 1988 and 1989. I have not seen or had any contact with them in years.
I can state with certainty that they are big hearted wonderful people and that the welfare of their animals on the farm was a top priority.
Richard Sullivan. 310-926-5413