I was extorted by the courts in Utah

Hi, I hope someone can give me a little advice or what to do, and where to go. I will give a short description of what happen to me so you can have some idea of what I am up against.

Over 10 years ago I bought 50+ acres of one of a kind canyon/creek property in Kanab, Utah. This is a very small Mormon town. Very few non-Mormons make it there very long. I had no idea when I bought the property that these types of town existed anymore.

Anyway approx. 5 years ago my dog a long with 4 other dogs were found eating the carcass of a 6-year-old ostrige. When the sheriffs arrived they rounded up the dogs, one being mine. My land is surrounded by ranches. The sheriffs came to my house told me what had happen and asked if it was my dog. Of course I said it was. Turns out I was the only one who was responsible and claimed their dog.

Next thing I know the take me to court saying their ostrage was an $18,000 ostrige but they would only charge me $6,000 for the bird. I knew nothing about ostriges. But I do know my dog and he had never killed another animal. In fact he is a volunteer at children's hospitals to cheer up the kids once a week. He even raised a litter of kittens when coyotes killed my cat.

The judge told me they would kill my dog if I did not pay the $6,000. I told him I knew nothing about ostriges but that seemed excessive; not to mention my dog did not kill the bird. If you put a dead animal out you will always have dogs finding the remains and eating them, especially in a rural area. It is natural.

I told the judge I would not admit that my dog killed this animal, but I did not want my dog killed. I told him I would pay this amount, but if I found out by researching it that that was an unreasonable amount I would want to bring the information back to him to change this fine. I was legally fined for "Dog not on a leash"

To make this short, I called an ostrich farm out of state and asked about this. The man there was shocked and said that a 6-year-old ostrich is not worth a penny. Not in meat, feathers, or eggs. That he sells prime 2-year ostrich for $400.00 and for $500.00 he would deliver it to these people. He also told me that a dog could not take down an ostrich, not even 5 dogs. They have a kick that would kill a horse. He told me he thought that I was being extorted.

I asked if he would write a letter to the judge telling him this. And the man was kind enough to do so for me. The judge dismissed the letter for reasons I do not know.

I paid the $500.00 and told him as agreed in our first conversation that is what I would pay and not a dollar more.

I moved to Vegas for work, but went back and forth on every other weekend to my house in Kanab since it was only a 3-hour drive.

5 years later, This was the end of March, I had visitors from France and we went to Kanab to do some hiking and spend time at my house there. The second day I was there, I was arrested for a warrant I never got, and given a $6,000 bail, CASH. They would not let me get a bail bondman saying I was not a resident.
Even though I live their part time and own in full the land and house. I had to get $6,000 bail in cash in which came Western Union. The secretary of the judge picked up.

By the way, never were my rights read to me upon arrest.
They put me in a cell where I had to sleep on a cement floor for four hours where I caught pneumonia.

I was never allowed to see a judge, I was told after they got the money, I could go home now and everything would be forgotten.

I know all of this is so illegal, but I cannot fight this in that town, it is Mormon and the lawyers, judges and leaders of the community are very, very corrupt.

What can I do to get some justice? All in all I was charged $6,000 for "Dog not on a leash" That was my only charge.

I feel I was extorted. They tried to get my land, but couldn't because I have it in a Trust.

I feel they baited that animal doing this on purpose. I also found the people were claiming bankruptcy before this even happen.

Thanks,
Jean

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

My response:

Where was your attorney in this situation?

Have you had a preliminary hearing?

When is your trial?

Who, in authority, have you spoken to about this?

What did the State's Attorney General's Office say to you about this?

Have you spoken to the Federal DOJ about your Civil Rights being violated?

Etc., etc., etc. . . .

IAAL

Where was your attorney in this situation?

Jean - I did not have an attorney, I thought the whole thing was over. I was never questioned about this again for 5 years until I was visiting my property and house with my visitors from France when they came with a warrant, and arrested me for "Dog without a leash) put handcuffs on me and put me in jail.

Also my big problem is this entire town of 6,000 is so corrupt I cannot get a fair trial there. As you can see by what the judge did with my bail money. There is no one in the justice system I can trust. They are all Mormon and mostly related.

Have you had a preliminary hearing?

Jean - Once they got my money for bail they said it was over. No paperwork nothing. I asked to speak to the judge and they said, there was no need to that I paid the bail, I told them thought bail and a fine were two different things. The jail guard told me I should just be happy to be out of jail.

When is your trial?

jean - There never was a trial, and according to the judge's secretary "all is forgotten" since I gave them the $6,000 for bail!

Who, in authority, have you spoken to about this?

Jean- No one, you are the first place I have gone. When this happen I was on a long awaited vacation with my friends from France when this happen, they just left a week ago. I don't know where to go about this?

What did the State's Attorney General's Office say to you about this?

Jean - I have not contacted him. Wouldn't he be Mormon too?

Have you spoken to the Federal DOJ about your Civil Rights being violated?

Jean - No, this is probably something I need to know, What is DOJ? I need to contact someone. So you do believe my Civil Rights were violated? I have no experience in legal matters. I just know what was done to me was very wrong.

I am not a criminal, I am not Mormon. All that I told you is the truth, there is nothing behind this that would cause any of these things that happen to happen. It was just as I told you.

Can they do what they did to me? Can I sue them or better yet have criminal charges put forth against them? if so can this be done outside of Utah to get a fair hearing?

I live in Vegas. If done in Utah I am afraid I will not get a fair trial due to not being Mormon. This is a big problem in Utah for non Mormon residents anywhere in Utah, but especially in Kanab, Utah.

Thank you so much,
Jean Flournoy

Hi again, I think I can see where a misunderstanding about having a hearing or trial would be.

When I saw the judge, I went to his office on my own. There was not even a ticket or anything issued right after this incident happen. I on my own went to the judge to speak to him in his office. So there never was a hearing or trial. This was just for me to make sure they did not kill my dog for this incident.

Once again, this was directly after the incident with the police coming to my house to ask me if the dog was my dog and to inform me that he was caught along with other dogs eating the remains of this ostrich. I took it upon myself to visit the judge unoffically I guess you can say. This was 5 years ago.

Thanks again,
Jean

Thanks,
jeani