Arson Suspect in Alexander Mountain Fire Should Be Charged With Cruelty to Animals, PETA Says
For Immediate Release:
September 23, 2024
Contact:
Nicole Perreira 202-483-7382
Today, PETA sent a letter to 8th Judicial District Attorney Gordon P. McLaughlin asking that cruelty-to-animals charges be added to the arson and related charges that Jason Hobby faces in connection with the devastating Alexander Mountain fire, which scorched nearly 10,000 acres of land and destroyed dozens of buildings.
The group notes that at least three companion animals reportedly died and that an untold number of wild animals were undoubtedly injured, killed, or displaced as a result of the blaze. Causing an animal unnecessary or unjustifiable pain or suffering violates Colorado’s animal protection laws, and prosecutors in Monterey County, California, and Jackson County, Oregon, have won convictions on such charges in similar cases.
“As the disastrous Alexander Mountain fire tore through Colorado, countless terrified animals saw their world go up in flames—including beloved companions who died in agony,” says PETA Vice President of Legal Advocacy Daniel Paden. “PETA is urging District Attorney McLaughlin to hold the perpetrator accountable to the fullest extent of the law for causing such immeasurable suffering.”
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
PETA’s letter to McLaughlin follows.
September 23, 2024
The Honorable Gordon P. McLaughlin
District Attorney for the 8th Judicial District of Colorado
Dear Mr. McLaughlin:
I hope this letter finds you well. I’m writing to request that your office add cruelty-to-animals charges, as appropriate, to the arson and related charges that Jason Hobby already faces in connection with the devastating Alexander Mountain fire near Loveland.
While it’s well known that the fire destroyed 29 homes and 21 other structures and scorched nearly 10,000 acres of land, catastrophic fires like this one also inflict terror and suffering on many domesticated and wild animals, causing them to experience prolonged, agonizing deaths. For example, according to an online fundraiser, one family found that three animal companions had been killed in the fire.
CRS § 18-9-202 states that cruelty to animals is committed if a person “knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence … mistreats … any animal … or needlessly kills an animal.” CRS § 18-9-201 defines “mistreatment” as “every act … that causes or unreasonably permits the continuation of unnecessary or unjustifiable pain or suffering.”
Given that Hobby is accused of knowingly starting a wildfire that led to unnecessary and unjustifiable pain, suffering, and death for animals, I respectfully ask that investigators and your office add cruelty-to-animals charges to those he already faces. Prosecutors in California and Oregon pursued such charges in similar cases, resulting in convictions.
Thank you for your consideration and for the difficult work that you do.
Sincerely,
Sarah Deffinger
Senior Evidence Analyst
Cruelty Investigations Department
