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The Stench of Pennsylvania Corruption
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Justice Does Not Exist In Pennsylvania
Show me a place where there is organized, longstanding animal abuse such as rodeos, bullfights, pigeon shoots, etc., and I will show you a place where corruption is the norm. One of the many reasons that pigeon shoots persist in Pennsylvania is because it is saturated with corruption, from its police to its district attorneys, to its judges and legislators. If there was ever a question that Pennsylvania is a state of corruption, the events of May 28 & 29 erase any doubt.
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District Judge Kenneth Lenker
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On May 28, Dauphin County District Judge Kenneth Lenker watched compelling video images of pigeons being dragged, slammed with a bucket or hit with gunshot and left to stagger into the brush to die slow, agonizing deaths. It was the second day that Judge Lenker had watched such images, the first being last March. The SHARK video documentation was the basis for 83 counts of cruelty against the outrageously named Erdman Sportsmans Association and pigeon supplier Don Bailey.
When it was all said and done, Judge Lenker let Erdman and Bailey go scott-free, basically declaring that it is impossible to be cruel to a pigeon. The ruling is a graphic example of the insanity of Pennsylvania's District Justice system. District Justices are popularly elected, and incredibly, some District Judges are not even lawyers. Judge Lenker is a case in point. He is not a lawyer, but a former police officer and realtor. 
Lenker's ruling was so completely out of touch with Pennsylvania's case law that there was little we could do but shake our heads in disgust as he quickly exited the courtroom after his ruling, refusing to accept case law from the prosecution. Lenker also ruled at the close of evidence, foreclosing the prosecution's chance of making a closing argument.
Lenker gave the cowardly pigeon killers a victory. I sincerely hope he is willing to live with that record, for we shall never forget it, and we'll make certain the rest of the world knows all about it.
We are awaiting the hearing transcript, because when we expose Lenker, we want to get it exactly right - word for word. Furthermore, Lenker can look forward to a YouTube video exposing him to the world. The pigeon shooters may love him, but decent people will know him for who and what he is.
Unfortunately, Lenker's bizarre and unconscionable ruling was just the beginning of our most recent experience with Pennsylvania's injustice system.
The very next day SHARK investigator Janet Enoch and I faced trial in
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District Judge
Daniel Finello
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Bucks County relating to Robert Olsen pulling a gun on me in broad daylight on a public street after our protest at Carlton Pools. See video Here. District Judge Daniel Finello, made Judge Lenker look sane, as hard as that is to believe.
Finello gave Janet and I a death glare the very moment we entered the courtroom. Finello began by stating that he didn't want to spend a lot of time on the trial. That's how the justice system apparently works in Warminster - like McDonald's. Fast justice. Just hang a rope over the nearest tree, and let's get it over with.
When the trial started, Finello's rulings quickly established his pro-local, anti-outsider stance. At one point our lawyer asked a yes/no question of a prosecution witness. The prosecutor objected, saying the witness shouldn't have to answer yes or no, but should be allowed to explain in more detail.
Unfortunately, the same did not apply when the prosecutor asked us questions and demanded yes/no answers. When we tried to answer in more detail, we were scolded by Finello. The prosecution got whatever it wanted, while the sheer number of Finello's denials to our attorney must have set some kind of Guinness world record.
When Finello declared a brief recess, he ordered that the witnesses be sequestered during the pendency of the trial.
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Thick as Thieves - Gunman Robert Olsen, his fellow thugs, pigeon shooter Joseph Solana Jr., and Warminster Police Detective James Boston just couldn't stay away from each other
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Apparently the pro-kill folks figured that only applied to us, because we caught them outside having a great time.
The frolickers included not only gunman Robert Olsen and his Carlton Pool accomplices - Steve Bendetto and Stanimir Tesrovski, and his boss - Joseph Solana but also the Warminster Police, including Detective James Boston - the lead detective on the case! Which explains the sham "investigation". The term, "Birds of a Feather" came to mind.
"Court" resumed and the charade continued. While the prosecution took their time presenting their case, our attorney was pressured to be quick about our defense. At the end, our attorney asked to admit the 911 calls from the day in question into evidence. This request was initially rejected by Finello until our attorney asked to make his objection to the Finello's ruling on the record, at which time Finello reluctantly gave in and allowed the 911 tapes into evidence. The tapes were played in court with Finello actually rolling his eyes like a spoiled teenager who doesn't get his way. The trial closed but not without an ending tirade from Finello who let us know that "this is my neighborhood". Finello actually mocked us for using the acronymn "SHARK" although after we get done exposing him to the world, he may understand that more clearly. Finello dismissed one of Janet Enoch's bogus charges and reduced her fine on the other bogus charge to $238.40. Janet remarked, "gee thanks, I am only half-screwed over". Steve was convicted of all four charges and his fine totaled $1,196.44. Given Finello's determination to make his feelings know to us, we decided to respond in kind. We immediately proceeded from court to Carlton Pools, where we again availed ourselves of our First Amendment rights. On this occasion, Mr. Olsen did not try to use his vehicle as a weapon, did not pull a gun on us, and the Warminster police did not show, hopefully finding better and legitimate ways to utilize time; although it is possible they headed to the nearest bar to celebrate their miscarriage of justice. Here we are holding a sign in front of Carlton Pools during rush hour traffic.
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SHARK President Steve Hindi protesting outside of
Carlton Pools after outrageous "court" verdict
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SHARK Investigator Janet Enoch protesting outside of
Carlton Pools after outrageous "court" verdict
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SHARK will not be deterred by the corruption of Pennsylvania. We will keep coming back to Pennsylvania until live pigeon shoots are banned.
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Bill to Ban Double Decker Trailers and Horses
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Being Protested by Rodeo Scum
Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) introduced legislation, (Senate Bill 1281) which would prohibit the interstate transportation of horses in a motor vehicle containing two or more levels (A.K.A. "double-deckers"). SHARK has a video about the dangers of double-decker trailers and horses:
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Rodeo Horses Transported in Dangerous Double-Decker Trailers
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In the Congressional publication of "The Hill", an article written by pro-rodeo hack, Fletcher R. Hall protests this proposed legislation, stating:
"Should such legislation become federal law, it would force rodeo livestock transporters to put more trucks on the road, hire more drivers, and increase fees to rodeo sponsors due to the drastic cost increase of transporting rodeo stock to rodeo events."
Works for us while protecting the safety of the horses in transit to the cruel rodeos.
What You Can Do:
To read this article and leave your comments, click here.
Illinois residents, please contact your state senator to request support of Senate Bill 1281.
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CBS - Friend to Animal Abusers
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Bill Geist is just the latest CBS News fake journalist to promote rodeos. In recent years CBS seems to have an unlimited appetite for supporting animal abusers, be they in the rodeo or even bullfights.
I hope you'll take a few minutes to check out the fluff piece CBS did on the rodeo, and that you will take another moment to post a comment about their lack of compassion or journalistic integrity.
What You Can Do You see the video here and leave your comments here. |
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Rodeos Desperate for Attendees Turn to Groupon for Help
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Looks like rodeos are getting so desperate for attendance, they have turned to Groupon to try to try to increase their attendance. The Silver Spurs Rodeo in Kissimmee, Florida was the first we had heard about Groupon helping the rodeo to increase their attendance. But that was just the beginning, now it looks like even Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo is turning to Groupon to help fill all the empty seats SHARK documents each year. Read about it here. |
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More Coca-Cola Animal Cruelty
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The Economic Times states in an article that in New Delhi, India: The Coca-Cola factory at Goblej near Ahmedabad has a pigeon problem. So in the past few days, there have been allegations of 200 pigeon deaths on the company's property... According to Harmesh Bhatt of the Ahmedabad-based ASHA Foundation, an organisation that treats stray animals, "the world's biggest soft drink maker used rough and ready methods to trap and kill about 200 pigeons on its property. The implements used in the operation were nets to trap the birds, and sticks, stones and bare hands to kill them. This was done on Friday with the help of "five hunters" from Hyderabad, he said." What You Can Do: You read the entire article here and leave your comments of disgust here. Coca-Cola is a huge rodeo sponsor and also sponsors the deadly Iditarod Dog Sled Race. SHARK strongly encourages a boycott of all of Coke's products. See SHARK's website: CokeCruelty.com for more information. |
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Kindest Regards,
Steve Hindi and Your SHARK Team
"Kindness and compassion towards all living beings is a mark of a civilized society. Racism, economic deprival, dog fighting and cock fighting, bullfighting and rodeos are all cut from the same fabric: violence. Only when we have become nonviolent towards all life will we have learned to live well ourselves." - Cesar Chavez, civil rights and labor leader, founder of the United Farm Workers
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