Charges laid in killing of pet pony
Sue Yanagisawa

The man accused of killing and decapitating a pony in a pasture near Arden two weeks ago was released from custody yesterday, with conditions.

Richard VanNess, 33, of Belleville and formerly of the Arden area, was arrested by Ontario Provincial Police over the weekend. He appeared briefly in the Ontario Court of Justice in Kingston yesterday.

His lawyer, Clyde Smith, waived reading of the charges. Assistant Crown attorney Gerard Laarhuis didn't oppose his release on $2,000 bail, so no evidence was presented.

OPP say VanNess has been charged with 14 offences arising from the slaughter of the three-year-old pinto pony, named Sunday.

Charges include injuring or endangering an animal, various Criminal Code of Canada firearms offences, vandalism and violating previous release conditions. He faces Fish and Wildlife Act hunting charges such as trespassing in order to hunt, hunting at night, unlawfully using a light to hunt at night, having a loaded firearm in a vehicle, shooting across a roadway, having possession of a loaded firearm within eight metres of a roadway and unlawfully using a firearm.

Police investigators theorized before VanNess's arrest that the pet pony was mistakenly shot by a poacher jacklighting for deer in the dark. They speculated that her head was taken to keep the bullet from falling into police hands to be used as evidence.

The pony's headless carcass was discovered in a field on Nov. 9 by a neighbour of the Matson family, who owned the pony. She had been the pet of three-year-old Cody Matson and his six-year-old brother, Chase.

While he remains free, VanNess has been ordered to report to Belleville Police every Monday. He's not allowed to have firearms, ammunition, crossbows or other weapons in his possession. He's been barred from Frontenac County, except to attend court or consult with his lawyer. He's also prohibited from consuming alcohol.

Assistant Crown attorney Paul Laarhuis suggested that alcohol played a part in the the pony's killing.

VanNess returns to court on the charges Dec. 5 at 10 a.m.