Ken Wiles and Joe Wiles of Wiles Farm in Ohio Charged With Animal Cruelty: Baby Pigs Thrown Into Bins, Larger Pigs Kicked, Beaten and Hanged

You can read about this horrific case and see the footage at
http://geari.blogspot.com/2006/12/
shocking-undercover-footage-at-wiles.html

Essentially, this family farm was nothing but a sadistic abuse facility run by Ken Wiles and Joe Wiles. Please visit the link to learn more.

Unfortunately, the charges still only amount to misdemeanors. I’m happy the prosecutor sees this as a case worth pursuing. However, weak animal cruelty laws will not be deterrents.

Article:

Ohio pig farmer charged with animal cruelty

http://www.examiner.com/a-513375~
Ohio_pig_farmer_charged_with_animal_cruelty.html

Associated Press

WOOSTER, Ohio - Charges of animal cruelty have been filed against the owner of a pig farm, where prosecutors say the animals were hanged before being slaughtered.

Ken Wiles was charged Tuesday with two counts of animal cruelty in Municipal Court in Wooster. The farm's general manager Joe Wiles was charged with six counts and employee Dusty Stroud was charged with two counts.

The men were scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 30. If convicted, each faces up to 90 days in jail on each misdemeanor charge.

The farm's attorney, Russell Buzzelli of Wadsworth, said Wednesday that it was too soon to comment in detail but that he would have something to say later. He also represents Ken Wiles.

"My client is innocent," Buzzelli said.

Ken Wiles said he had no comment. There were no public telephone listings for Joe Wiles or Stroud.

Canton Prosecutor Frank Forchione, a special prosecutor, said the charges were filed after he viewed video taped by farm employees and after interviewing witnesses. He did not visit the farm in Creston in Wayne County, about 45 miles southwest of Cleveland.

The video, which aired on local television news, showed baby pigs being thrown into bins and larger pigs being kicked and beaten.

"It didn't matter whether or not I was able to set foot on the farm. Obviously, what was going on was disturbing. I just decided at that point that somebody has to speak up for the voiceless," Forchione said.

California-based Humane Farming Association bought full-page advertisements in area newspapers against the farm.

"We believe there finally should be jail time for animal abuse and cruelty of suffering in Ohio. Right now it is just a misdemeanor, but in many states, it would warrant a felony charge," said Bradley Miller, the association's director.