A state jury found the mother and son who operated a no-kill animal rescue shelter on their property in Makaha guilty Thursday of misdemeanor animal cruelty.
The jurors deliberated for three days before finding David “Lanny” Moore guilty on 24 counts. They found June More guilty on one count.
Circuit Judge Edward Kubo Jr. scheduled the Moores’ sentencing for this morning . The maximum penalties for a misdemeanor is one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
Kubo ordered the Moores taken into custody pending sentencing on $5,000 cash-only bail for David Moore and $3,000 cash-only bail for June Moore.
“I agree with the verdicts,” Kubo said. “I have seen the damage done to these pet animals.” Kubo compared that damage with what was seen during the genocide of World War II.
“When one says that they are a no-kill shelter and then takes steps to kill an animal, giving it no chance of survival, that to me is a kill shelter,” he said.
Kubo disclosed in previous cases that his wife had operated an animal day care and was a Hawaiian Humane Society supporter.
He allowed June Moore to remain free after her lawyer Samson Shigetomi asked him to reconsider the bail requirement and Deputy Prosecutor Janice Futa agreed. Kubo denied a similar request from David Moore’s lawyer Harrison Kiehm.
In addition to being sentenced this morning, David Moore faces a contempt of court hearing. Kubo charged him with petty misdemeanor contempt for filing papers with the Hawaii Supreme Court on Wednesday without the knowledge of his lawyer. He said the papers contain statements that he perceives as “slanderous and libelous.” Kubo and previous judges assigned to the case had cautioned Moore that he cannot file documents on his own when he is represented by a lawyer.
The animal cruelty charges stem from the
October 2016 seizure of more than 300 animals from the Friends for Life shelter on the Moores’ 2-acre property. The Moores were originally charged with 310 counts. The state reduced it to 24, one each for the dogs who were in the worst condition.
“We are pleased that the jury recognized the seriousness of the inhumane cruelty perpetrated on the animals,” said Hawaiian Humane Soceity spokeswoman Suzy Tam.
The Hawaiian Humane Society had seized the animals.
Kiehm had argued to the jury that David Moore didn’t intentionally, knowingly or recklessly deprive the dogs of necessary sustenance or cause the deprivation. Shigetomi argued that June Moore was not involved in the operation of the shelter because of her health and the health of her husband, who has since died.
The guilty verdict for June Moore involves a dog who had a tumor on its under side so big that it dangled when the dog stood and at times dragged on the ground when it walked.
