A rural Willow Springs man faces a felony charge after allegedly destroying electric fencing and intentionally running over and killing six goats.
Logan A. Davis, 20, is charged with one felony count of first-degree property damage. Court records indicate he was issued a summons to make an initial appearance Sept. 28 before Associate 37th Circuit Judge R. David Ray.
The charge stems from a June 7 investigation led by Howell County Deputy Avery Stolba, who responded to Forest Service land off Private Road 5371. The owner of the livestock told law enforcement he held a federal grazing permit and had hired someone to care for his herd. Upon checking the area, damaged electric fencing and dead livestock were discovered.
Stolba noted that two nannies and four kids appeared to have been run over, citing tire tracks leading directly to the dead animals. Thick brush and branches in the area also appeared snapped by a passing vehicle.
According to court documents, the owner suspected the incident likely occurred June 6. A broken barbed-wire fence — intact on June 5 — marked where a vehicle apparently entered the property from a neighboring parcel owned by Davis’ father.
During questioning, Stolba learned Davis had borrowed his father’s Ford Bronco on the night tin question, and the vehicle subsequently caught fire on National Forest property. Davis’ mother reportedly picked him and two friends up that night near an access road connecting the properties.
When Davis was interviewed, Stolba said, he initially claimed one of his friends was driving the Ford when the fences and goats were hit. According to Stolba, Davis then admitted to driving before again shifting blame back to a passenger. However, witnesses told investigators that Davis was driving when the vehicle crashed through the fence and intentionally ran over the goats.
The case is being prosecuted by Howell County Prosecutor Mike Hutchings and Assistant Prosecutor Rizwan Ahad.
