According to recently filed court documents, a man and a teenager from Lebanon County acknowledged that they were attempting to run over a fox earlier this month as they chased the animal through a field on snowmobiles.
According to court documents, Jeffrey S. Horst, 20, of Myerstown, was charged on Thursday with six crimes, including animal cruelty. The date of his preliminary hearing is set on March 6.
The 17-year-old who was with Horst may or may not have been charged as well. In Pennsylvania, juvenile offenses are sealed. In court filings, the teen is only named as A.S.B.
The two were captured on camera frightening the fox as it ran across a snowy field in Heidelberg Township on the afternoon of January 20 close to State Route 501 and Locust Street. For about half an hour, they pursued the fox, seemingly running it over several times.
We don’t know the fox’s condition. Two witnesses told PennLive that the fox looked alive but fatigued after the encounter, including the individual who took the video that was uploaded to Facebook.
Regarding her choice to begin recording, one witness remarked, “I just saw an innocent fox, and I’m like, I don’t think that’s right.” On the same day, the woman’s husband gave the video to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
It was at 1:30 p.m. on January 20 when a game warden was sent to the scene. The warden saw several tracks in the icy area that were consistent with snowmobile tires, according to court filings.
Then, the Game Commission declared that the snowmobilers were wanted for unlawfully harassing the fox and trying to take it.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, Horst and the 17-year-old called Game Commission dispatch four days later and handed themselves in. On the same day, the two were interviewed.
According to the affidavit, Horst told investigators that shortly after entering the area at midday on January 20, he saw two foxes. Although he and the 17-year-old acknowledged chasing one of the animals, according to court filings, the chase only lasted a few minutes, not as long as witnesses claimed—no more than 30 minutes.
Horst was charged by the Game Commission with four summary charges and misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to conduct animal cruelty and animal cruelty. As of Thursday, he is not under arrest.
Reporters were informed by District Attorney Pier Hess Graf that her office would be meeting with investigators this week to determine the necessary charges.
At first, Graf consented to speak about the fox incident on Friday with PennLive and every other news organization in central Pennsylvania. She stated that she would only consent to the interview if the reporter PennLive sent was not Christine Vendel, who is in charge of breaking news and investigations, in a call with reporter Jonathan Bergmueller on Thursday morning.
Vendel and writer Jenna Wise collaborated on the year-long study that revealed Lebanon County has one of Pennsylvania’s lowest rates of sex offense prosecutions.
Graf informed Bergmueller about Vendel and said, “She’s a terrible person.” She should burn in a fire, I hope.
Graf responded, “Well, that’s how I feel,” in response to Bergmueller’s rebuttal to this remark.
Later, she reneged on the Friday interview in an email to PennLive’s news tip email account.
Graf wrote in the email, “I checked my calendar for media requests tomorrow.” Ms. Vendel was appointed as PennLive’s representative. Your request for an interview is been denied. Enjoy your weekend.
Two women who came forward to allege being raped and told PennLive that the Lebanon County DA’s office let them down were the subject of the year-long investigation by PennLive.
One lady claimed that because she knew her alleged rapist, a coworker, Graf’s office had warned her not to expect charges.Graf refused to prosecute the man she said raped her and accused another woman of filing a fake accusation. Trial in the false report case might begin as early as February.
Over the course of five months, Graf ignored countless calls and emails about the sex crimes project, and when a reporter stopped by her office before PennLive’s November publication, Graf refused to talk.
This report was written by Jonathan Bergmueller, a staff writer.
Stories by
Jenna Wise