El Dorado teens charged in animal abuse case

The early January 2012 arrest of three El Dorado Springs teens for animal abuse has resulted in several felony charges being filed against all three suspects in the Vernon County Circuit Court.

A month-long investigation by the Vernon County Sheriff's Office has led to felony charges being filed against Joshua A. Markus, 17, Hunter D. Harper, 18, and Tyrel C. Parsley, 18, all of El Dorado Springs.

The trio was originally arrested in El Dorado Springs in early January after El Dorado Springs police officers responded to 901 S. Grand St. in El Dorado Springs on Dec. 28, 2011, about a report of animal abuse. Further investigation revealed that four goats had been left on the softball field of the El Dorado Springs R-2 School.

Two of the goats were dead when officers arrived, apparently due to physical injuries, according to information from the El Dorado Springs Police Department. One of the surviving goats was euthanized on the scene due to the severity of its injuries, and the fourth was taken to the city pound where it was treated for its injuries. One goat displayed an ear tag with the No. 14 and another with the No. 10. Additional information obtained in the investigation led to a dead piglet in a dumpster that apparently died from physical trauma.

El Dorado Springs officers continued to investigate and on Jan. 3, arrested Markus, and charged him with ordinance violations of animal abuse, tampering with a motor vehicle, trespassing, livestock running at large and solid waste prohibited. Markus was released on summons pending a court appearance. On Jan. 4, officers arrested Harper and Parsley charging them with ordinance violations of animal abuse, tampering with a motor vehicle, trespassing, livestock running at large and solid waste prohibited. Both men were released on summonses pending court appearances.

After the arrests, interagency cooperation between the El Dorado Springs Police Department and Vernon County Sheriff's Office led investigators to discover that the animals involved in the case had been stolen from Vernon County. According to a probable cause statement filed in the circuit court, Hunter told VCSO investigator Steve Schlup that he, Parsley and Markus came to Vernon County on the night of Dec. 27, 2011, and went to an area southwest of Wal-Mart.

There, the trio found a herd of goats belonging to Thomas Taylor. According to the court documents "they're intentions were to take some of the animals." The animals were roped around the neck, their legs bound with zip ties and according to Harper he "took a baseball bat and struck one of the goats several times with it." The court documents say that the beating with the bat resulted in "debilitating injuries" part of which was one of the goat's horns was knocked completely off.

The four goats were allegedly dragged to Harper's vehicle and taken to the location where they were discovered on the El Dorado Springs school grounds. Two of the goats died of strangulation and the one that was struck with the bat had to be euthanized. The fourth goat survived.

During the investigation, C.D. Scotten brought investigators a Missouri Depart-ment of Conservation fir-earms license that he had found in a corral on his property in November of 2011, just a short distance from where the screen had been cut on one of his hog barns. The license was registered to Parsley. Harper advised investigators that "Parsley had told him about cutting a screen on a hog barn and then stealing a pig from the barn." According to court documents he put the pig in the trunk of his car and took it to his grandfather's farm. Parsley told Harper that Markus was with him during that time. That information coincides with a report filed in November by Joann Scotten.

All three suspects were arrested and taken to the Vernon County jail where the were booked on several charges. Parsley has been charged with two class C felony counts of theft/stealing of any livestock, one count of the class D felony of animal abuse/torture/mu-tilation while animal was still alive and one class D felony of first degree property damage. Harper has been charged with the class C felony of theft/stealing of any livestock and one count of the class D felony of animal abuse/torture/mutilation while animal was still alive. Markus has been charged with two class C felony counts of theft/stealing any of livestock and one count of the class D felony of animal abuse/torture/mu-tilation while animal was still alive.

Harper posted a $10,000 bond and is set to be arraigned in the 28th Circuit Court of Vernon County on March 26. Markus is represented by the law firm of J.D. Baker of Osceola, Mo., and Parsley has obtained the legal services of Joshua Jones of Osceola. Both have been arraigned and granted a bond reduction as requested by legal counsel.

Both have pleaded not guilty to all charges and were released on their own recognizance with the stipulation that they could not leave their homes except for school, school functions, work, court appearances or to see their attorneys. Both men are scheduled for a pre-trial conference on March 29.