RUTLAND, Vt. -
A Killington man was in court Monday accused of involuntary manslaughter because police say his animal caused a fatal accident. A case that has the farming community up in arms.
Craig Mosher of Killington faces a Rutland County judge and potentially time behind bars charged with involuntary manslaughter for a fatal wreck he wasn't in.
State Police say in July of last year Mosher's Scottish Highland bull escaped its pasture just off Route 4.
Police say a Connecticut couple was driving west a little after ten at night, hit the bull and then a nearby tree. Jon Bellis, 62, died at the scene. His wife suffered a wrist injury.
Prosecutors say Mosher is responsible for the death for not properly containing his animal. Mosher - who declined to speak on camera - pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Dozens of friends colleagues and members of the Vermont Farm Bureau showed up at a court hearing in Rutland Monday in support of Mosher. They say a guilty verdict in this case could set a dangerous precedent for the agriculture industry as a whole.
"If you can be put in prison for 15 years if your animal gets loose and causes an accident, it is really changing a lot of people's way of thinking. This isn't about farms. This is about anyone who owns any kind of an animal," said Raymond Duquette, Vermont Farm Bureau.
Other farmers, who never met Mosher, packed the courtroom.
"If I am driving on a state road or someone is driving on a state road and hits a Moose and gets killed, can they then sue the state for involuntary manslaughter? If a child runs out after a ball in front of a car, are those parents held liable," said Mary Anderson, Bethel.
"I want to focus on facts of this case," said Rose Kennedy, Rutland County State's Attorney.
And while the Rutland County State's Attorney did not offer much in the way way of details, court documents show police were dispatched to the Route 4 property 5 times in the couple of months leading up to the fatal crash for a bull in the road.
"I will be presenting this case in trial. And that is where this case belongs, but I wanted farmers to know, especially farmers in this community to understand. This is not and attack on farmers. The state is aware that animals get out but this unfortunately is a case about public safety," said Kennedy.
A civil settlement has already been reached in this case however the details of that settlement are not being disclosed.
Michael Carper ·
So does this mean if you hit a deer, which the state claims as their property, you can now sue the state?
Cindy Mayer ·
Yesterday was about a postponement needed because the state's attorney was obviously playing games in getting the needed documents to the defense. This is a civil case that this state’s attorney has no idea of the consequences and is using to further her career.
 
Robert Giannattasio ·
Could this open the door for the State to be liable for all accidents with deer and Moose? When my car was wrecked by a suicidal Doe, I wanted the meat but the game warden informed me that the deer was the States property! Opens up a world of possibilities....
Claire McDonnell ·
This same thing happened to me, can i sue for the two thousand dollars that it took to repair my car? i want my money back! !!!
Scott Bigelow
Craig is a model citizen and a friend to everyone. For lack of better wording; These charges are a bunch of shit. Why isn't the state prosecuting REAL criminals?? What about all of the heroin use in the area? Why aren't the hundreds of drug users, druggies who overdose, pregnant mothers who use drugs, and other criminals prosecuted?
Jim Eckhardt ·
Mr. Mosher is an upstanding member of the community. His help during Irene was beyond reproach and he did it without asking. I see horses out of there fences all of the time as well as cows. The precident this case would set would be ridiculous. Perhaps the folks driving should not over drive their headlights at night.
Mary Allard Stanley ·
Mr. Eckhardt, I appreciate your thoughts on the upstanding citizen Mr. Mosher is, not living down that way, I have not had the privilege of meeting him, your thoughts are commendable. However, you lost my respect when you insinuated that the victim, was in any way shape or form responsible for this accident. Perhaps I'm wrong, and there is something in the news I missed explaining that the Bellis' were speeding. If that's the case, I apologize. However, unless there is some indication they did something wrong you really should keep your poorly formulated thoughts to yourself!!
 
Eddie Anders
The anti-agriculture crowd is becoming stronger and very bold. What do you suppose those dumb-asses plan to eat after they put an end to farming?
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