NOT CRIMINALLY RESPONSIBLE Judge Orders Man Accused of Abusing Goat To Mental Hospital
Reported by: Bob Aaron
Web Producer: Jeff Morris
Reported: Sep. 17, 2012 2:08 PM EDT
Updated: Sep. 17, 2012 2:14 PM EDT
Eyewitness News Photo
Charleston
, Kanawha County
, West Virginia
A man accused of abusing his neighbor’s goat while the suspect was high on bath salts has been found not criminally responsible because of mental illness.
Mark Lucas Thompson of South Charleston was ordered Monday by Kanawha Circuit Judge James Stucky to be placed for 6 ½ years in Sharpe State Hospital. He will be evaluated by the court every year to determine if his mental health has improved.
Witnesses had said Thompson was standing near a dead pygmy goat and the suspect was wearing bra and panties.
If he had been convicted on the original charges, he could have faced 6 ½ years in prison. Thompson was originally charged with petty larceny for allegedly stealing the goat, felony animal cruelty for allegedly killing the goat and misdemeanor animal cruelty for allegedly having sex with the animal.
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Bob Aaron
