So that means he'll have to decide before the end of the year whether to admit York County's three alleged goat killers -- Chad Snell, 20; Jason Barnett, 19; and Cameron Fromm, 18; all from the Red Lion/Windsor area -- to the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program.
In case you're unfamiliar with the diversionary program, it gives someone charged with a crime a chance to avoid conviction by instead completing court-ordered requirements. They don't have to admit guilt. They get to clear their criminal record of any mention of the crime for which they are charged. And they get to avoid jail time.
There is, however, one stipulation -- ARD is available only to first-time nonviolent offenders.
Which at quick glance would seem to eliminate any of the three alleged goat killers from consideration for ARD. Why? Well because their alleged act was about as violent as it gets.
And please don't try to tell me a violent act on a goat is not the same as a violent act on a human being. That dog won't hunt with me. A violent act is a violent act. You throw a human off a bridge with intent to kill, you go to prison for a really long time. But if you throw a goat off a bridge with intent to kill, you get to participate in ARD?
Sorry, but that does not compute.
But maybe that's just me. I like animals, so I probably have a
Nevertheless, I'm willing to allow you to judge for yourselves. If you haven't heard the story or if you heard about it in mid-January when it happened, but it made you so sick to your stomach the retching drove it from your mind, permit me to rehash it for you one more time.
Imagine four young men -- the fourth was a juvenile who shall remain unnamed -- driving around with nothing to do. Bored to tears, I guess. What they needed was a little fun in their lives.
So, according to court documents, they drove to the home of Robert Gromling in Chanceford Township on the night of Jan. 18, 2009. There, police allege, they saw 5- or 6-year-old Smokey -- a gray and black goat with 6-inch horns -- in an enclosure. They called Smokey over -- he must have been a friendly fellow -- then grabbed him and tossed him into the bed of Fromm's pickup truck.
From there, police report, they drove to the bridge on McCalls Ferry Road in Lower Chanceford Township and tossed Smokey off the bridge.
Smokey deserved better than that. He fell about 50 feet to his death.
And the alleged goat killers, no longer bored, drove away as though nothing happened. Just a handful of country boys having a good time.
For more than three months, it was their dirty secret. But then word of the incident leaked out. And before they knew it, the state police had gathered them up for interviews.
According to the state police, all four eventually confessed to the violent act.
The three adults were charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty, theft, criminal conspiracy and corruption of a minor. Fromm also was charged with making false reports to police. The minor was charged with theft and misdemeanor animal cruelty.
Then, and only then, did the gravity of the situation hit them between the eyes.
And the first thing you know, they're looking for a way out. Murdering a goat was apparently a lot more fun than dealing with the consequences of murdering a goat.
Now Stan Rebert certainly doesn't need my advice on matters having to do with law and justice. But just in case, I'll give it to him anyway.
These three alleged goat killers should not and do not qualify for ARD.
True, they didn't murder a human being. Thank God for that.
But they did take an animal that was alive and well one minute, and 10 minutes later -- just for the fun of it -- they reduced it to a pile of dead flesh under a tall bridge. It was uncivilized.
And they couldn't even give a reason -- not even a stupid reason -- for having done it.
I believe in mercy. I believe in redemption. I'm hopeful that all four of these young men live decent and productive lives from this point on.
But in the here and now, there are consequences for their bad choices on Jan. 18.
At the very least, each young man should face required psychological counseling for at least six months to a year, time in jail and 100 hours of community service. I'd like to see them express remorse, too, for their actions.
Then 10 years from now, if they've lived crime-free lives, allow them to petition the local court to have their criminal records expunged.
But ARD now? Forget it. Pay the piper first.
Columns by Larry A. Hicks, Dispatch columnist, run Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. E-mail: lhicks@yorkdispatch.com.
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