Horse Owner Found Guilty of Animal Cruelty, Neglect

A jury has convicted Jamie A. Koy of Des Plaines of 24 counts of misdemeanor charges May 24 relating to animal cruelty and neglect. 

McHenry County Sheriff’s deputies had arrested the 37-year-old Des Plaines resident on Aug. 2, 2010, when McHenry County Animal Control removed five of her horses from a rented stable near Crystal Lake claiming they had been starved and mistreated. Two of the horses were euthanized due to their emaciated condition, according to court documents. 

According to a release from McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office, the surviving horses were rehabilitated by the Hooved Animal Humane Society in Woodstock and the University of Wisconsin’s Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. 

“According to the trained veterinarians, horses in good health have a bone marrow fat content percentage in the range of 60 to 90 percent and the two horses that were euthanized had a fat content of 2.7 and 5.1,” said Demetri Tsilmigras, deputy chief of the criminal division at the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office. 

During the course of the seven-day jury trial, Donald Kamps testified that Koy had contracted with him in January, 2009, to board the horses and to pay for boarding when they had been sold. But in April, 2010, Kamps said he felt Koy was never going to sell the horses and padlocked the barn to force a settlement with her. 

Kamps estimated that rent, penalties, interest and late payment fees totaled over $20,000. The case was settled for $5,700 and Koy was permitted to remove one of her horses after paying Kamps $300. 

Koy has maintained she was prohibited from coming on the property by Kamps’ padlocks. 

Kamps said Koy was always allowed on the property, despite the padlock, to care for the horses, but she didn’t come. He said he ended up feeding them and providing medical care and farrier services when needed. 

Over the course of the year, Kamps said the horses appeared to get “skinnier” over time. 

At the conclusion of testimony, Koy’s attorney, Dan Hofmann, asked the court to drop the term “starvation” as it indicated nourishment was purposely withheld from the animals, which was not the case by either party. 

He continued that the state had not proved the horses were malnourished or starved, despite medical testimony to the contrary. 

Presiding Circuit Court Judge Charles Weech denied the request, stating the prosecution had provided sufficient evidence for the jury to proceed to deliberations. 

Koy had no comment after learning of her conviction. 

Sentencing is scheduled for July 21 at McHenry County Courthouse. Koy faces up to one year in jail and/or $2,500 fine for eight counts of Class A misdemeanor offense of Animal Cruelty and 16 counts of the Class B misdemeanor offense of Neglection of Owner’s Duties.