PETA jumps into Iraan case

IRAAN Add the four Iraan High students disciplined in the beating deaths of two deer to a list that has included everyone from the Green Bay Packers to the Olsen twins: Targets of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

A statement on PETA’s website asks people to send messages to three area officials asking them to file “cruelty to animals” charges against the students. It said young people who abuse animals could have problems in the future.

“FBI interviews with murderers showed that 36 percent had tortured and killed animals as children and that 46 percent had done so as adolescents,” the message reads.

It goes on to include a suggested text for people to e-mail Pecos County District Attorney Laurie English, Sheriff Cliff Harris and Texas Parks and Wildlife Capt. Scott Davis.

Kristin DeJournett, a cruelty caseworker with PETA, said the e-mail campaign was launched after discussions with parks and wildlife officials didn’t yield the results they were looking for.

“We feel that anytime an animal is so brutally treated, there needs to be charges of cruelty to animals,” she said.

Since Friday, Davis said he’s deleted around 400 of the messages.

“It’s not going to change what we have decided,” Davis said. “We’re confident we filed the correct charges.”

The four students have been charged with “hunting deer with illegal means” and “hunting deer in closed season,” both Class C misdemeanors that carry $500 fines. Two of the students were identified as Call Cade and Zak Owen, both 17. The other two weren’t identified because of their ages.

PETA’s message said cruelty to animal charges are in order because psychological counseling is required for juveniles found guilty of such charges.

Davis said the students’ ages played a part in the charges filed against them, as well as contrition and remorsefulness.

Davis said he doesn’t take e-mail campaigns seriously when special interest groups like PETA administer them.

“That’s one of the ploys they use to try to influence folks,” he said. “We did what we felt was right.”

DeJournett said the e-mails are important in informing the public.

“A lot of times officials think that maybe it’s not important,” she said. “We just like to let people know about these situations. It’s important to let the public know that animal cruelty cases should be taken seriously.”

The students have a plea hearing scheduled for Jan. 8 with Pecos County Justice of the Peace Cathy Ervine. The school district has already disciplined the students in the trapping and beating of the deer in the baseball field at Iraan High, located 83 miles southeast of Odessa.

The animals were found Dec. 7.

As part of their punishment, they will spend the spring semester in the district’s Disciplinary Alternative Education Placement. Although they’ll be kept off campus for 88 days, the four are expected to return to full student privileges in the fall.

Efforts to reach English and Harris were unsuccessful Wednesday.