LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — A Nevada dog trainer accused of animal abuse has been deported to Scotland, and a co-defendant’s charges have been dismissed, prompting an animal advocacy group to file a formal complaint against the Clark County District Attorney’s Office.
MORE ON FOX5: DA cites ‘insufficient evidence’ as animal abuse charge dropped in Working Dogs of Nevada case
The case centers on Working Dogs in Nevada, a facility that claimed to train, rehabilitate, and rehome dogs and also accepted animals from other rescues. The facility has since closed.
How the case began
A facility worker identified as Kerrigan began recording what she described as questionable training practices on her phone. The footage, which was first obtained by FOX5, appeared to show trainer John Johnstone dragging a dog and what appeared to be kicking it.
Police launched their own investigation and obtained surveillance video from the facility. According to the arrest report, the footage showed Johnstone swinging dogs in the air and dragging them.
A second person, Tabitha Barube, was also charged. Investigators said she failed to intervene. Authorities cited Nevada’s Reba’s Law, which increased animal abuse penalties and holds bystanders accountable for failing to stop abuse.
Trainer deported, co-defendant’s case dismissed
Court records showed Johnstone was in the country illegally. Barube notified the court during an April hearing that Johnstone was in ICE custody. He has since been deported to Scotland.
A bench warrant remains active, but Johnstone is no longer in the country. The judge indicated the public defender’s office would attempt to make contact with him to resolve the case.
The one count of animal abuse against Barube has been dropped and her case dismissed, a development that sparked outrage among animal advocates.
Formal complaint filed against DA’s office
John Waudby, founder of Nevada Animal Advocates and a driving force behind Reba’s Law, attended the court hearing and said he was shocked by the dismissal of Barube’s case.
Waudby filed a formal complaint via certified mail with the Nevada Attorney General’s Office and the State Bar, requesting an independent review of the Clark County District Attorney’s Office and its handling of animal abuse prosecutions.
Reporter Victoria Saha brought the complaint to District Attorney Steve Wolfson, who pushed back on the criticism. Wolfson said his office’s approach is solid and that he would not change his approach to animal abuse cases going forward. He said plea deals are not a bad outcome because defendants are still pleading guilty, and noted that his office lacks sufficient judges and prosecutors to take every case to trial.
Wolfson also said the public is misinformed. He said his office has received approximately 171 animal abuse cases in the last two years, of which 19 were denied. He confirmed that most cases end in plea deals.
Wolfson said he would welcome an independent review of his office regarding these cases.
What happened to the dogs
Dogs confiscated from the facility during the investigation were initially taken to the Animal Foundation. Some were returned to their owners. A Southern California pit bull rescue traveled to Nevada to retrieve two dogs, including one named Dottie, who appeared in the police report. Dottie and another dog were transported back to California.
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