UPDATE: Tioga Downs Arsonist Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

On April 19, 2024, Boyd H. Fenton—the man who pleaded guilty to setting fire to a barn at Tioga Downs harness racing track in November 2023 and burning more than two dozen horses alive—was sentenced in New York’s Tioga County Court to 15 years in prison.

On December 8, 2023, Fenton was arraigned on a 105-count indictment.

In addition to charges of arson, assault, burglary, and criminal mischief, Fenton, on February 4, 2024, pleaded guilty to numerous charges for the alleged crimes he committed that harmed or killed animals. Those included one count of aggravated cruelty to animals, 30 counts of interference with or injury to certain domestic animals, and 31 counts of overdriving, torturing, and injuring animals.

PETA Pushed For Tough Punishment in the Tioga Downs Arson Case

PETA first called for cruelty-to-animals charges against the perpetrator on November 9, 2023, the day the fire was set. We then asked Kirk Martin, the district attorney for Tioga County, to charge specifically under New York statute § 361, which prohibits the willful destruction of a horse used for racing.

In response to PETA’s outreach to his office, Martin assured us that Fenton would face felony charges for killing the animals at Tioga Downs, in addition to arson, assault, criminal mischief, and burglary. The DA said at the time that the alleged arsonist would be charged separately for every horse who died—and that’s exactly what happened at Fenton’s arraignment.

Thanks to all of you who called and urged the DA to do right by the real victims of this terrible crime: the horses.