Justice Herman to oversee animal cruelty case

May 17, 2011

Montana: Justice of the Peace Larry Herman has taken over the Leachman Animal Cruelty Case from fellow Justice of the Peace Pedro Hernandez.

Hernandez was asked to step down from the case after a lawsuit was filed against him. The lawsuit was filed after Judge Hernandez ordered defendant James Leachman to remove 70 horses from leased land where they had no access to water. Leachman made the argument that Judge Hernandez had no jurisdiction over him and his horses.

James Leachman is charged with eight counts of animal cruelty for failing to adequately feed and care for hundreds of horses over the winter. He was cited last week for allowing a stallion to run free on open range.

Leachman will appear before Herman on May 25, 2011.