Rescue crews with the Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District load an injured equestrian onto a Life Flight helicopter at the Pacific City Airport on March 18th, 2024. (Photo Courtesy – Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District)
Pacific City, Ore. – A young woman with an equestrian outfitter company was airlifted by Life Flight Network following a reported horseback riding injury on Monday in the small town of Pacific City in Tillamook County.
According to HelenFay Maze, a spokesperson at the Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District, no additional information was immediately available as the crew handling the scene is now off duty for the next week.
While there was no information regarding any injury or rescue involving the horses, Maze did reveal that their agency is also trained in the Technical Large Animal Rescue offered by the Oregon Horse Council.
The NRFPD’s Facebook post reported a “horse riding accident” taking place at the Bob Straub State Park and the patient being transferred to Life Flight at the Pacific City State Airport.
Crews were assisted with ground transport to the airport by an ambulance from Adventist Health Tillamook.
A post made on Facebook by Morgan DeLain stated her sister is “currently stable at the hospital.” DeLain also thanked first responders.
Equestrian Media Group confirmed that DeLain is the sister of Mahaley “Mo” Rogers, 23, who is also listed as an owner of Mo’s Beach & Trail Rides.
Mahaley was one of several former employees of Green Acres Beach & Trail Rides, another Pacific City equestrian outfitter company facing ongoing allegations of horse neglect.
Rogers was one of multiple former employees and others who alleged a number of legal issues by the company and its owners last year.
The owners of Green Acres are embattled with state officials from numerous agencies on issues of illegal child labor and avoiding workers’ compensation insurance, resulting in a $119,000 fine late last year which is still unpaid.
Earlier this year, the Bureau of Labor and Industries declined to provide records, citing exemptions to release due to an ongoing investigation by the Oregon Department of Justice into the company and its owners.
Equestrian Media Group could not determine if Rogers was injured while conducting equestrian outfitting for customers, an activity overseen by the Oregon State Marine Board through a licensing process.
Additional details regarding the accident were not immediately available. We will update this story if we learn more. Remember that we depend on reader tips in order to cover these breaking news stories.
A booking photo of Raina Ott from 2020 was released by the Lane County Sheriff’s Office following her past conviction for neglecting horses. On the right is the heading of the recent 41-count indictment brought against Ott by a grand jury in Lane County, Oregon.
Eugene, Ore. – An Oregon woman who has already been facing increasing legal woes from criminal charges has now been indicted by a Lane County grand jury of 41 additional criminal counts ranging from felony animal neglect, theft of property, identify theft, and more probation violations.
Raina McKenzie Ott, 24, was indicated on Tuesday in one of her newer criminal cases, which initially only included a single misdemeanor charge of animal neglect.
That case and a separate case of four counts of theft in connection with a Coastal Farm & Ranch Store are in addition to ongoing probation violations from Ott’s conviction in a 2020 case on multiple counts of neglecting horses.
Ott and her mother, Erica Ott, were initially charged and then convicted years ago for their role in a high-profile case involving over 60 horses primarily neglected by Gwenyth Davies.
The forty-one counts listed in the criminal indictment revealed on Tuesday included:
16 counts of Identify Theft
5 counts of Theft in the First Degree
12 counts of Animal Neglect in the Second Degree
6 counts of Animal Neglect in the First Degree
2 counts of a Brand Inspection Violation
Days before the indictment against Ott was revealed, a warrant was issued for her arrest after failing to appear for arraignments in both of the new cases.
Sergeant Tim Wallace, a public information officer for the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, also confirmed that Ott was not cooperating further, as previously indicated in a press release a week prior, but that the “case is still being actively investigated…”
When asked about efforts in attempting to apprehend Ott; as well as Davies, who also has an outstanding warrant since September of 2023 for her own alleged probation violations, Wallace stated they were aware of the warrants.
“Our patrol staff is aware of Ott’s misdemeanor warrant, and the neglect case is still being actively investigated,” said Wallace.
“Davies is believed to have fled the state, and we have conflicting leads on where she may be.”
Questions raised about involvement by livestock auctions
The new charges have also been part of increasing allegations being raised against multiple livestock auction companies for facilitating sales of livestock to Ott, some of which go as far as alleging that one of the auctions allowed Ott to conduct the transactions under an alias matching charges in her indictment.
In late January, the owner of the Lebanon Auction Yard, Lezlie Cowart, sent an unsolicited message on social media to Darla Clark, who is the Executive Director of Strawberry Mountain Mustangs, a 501(c)(3) horse rescue organization.
Cowart introduced herself to Clark and said she was, “trying to reach Raina Ott about some paperwork,” going on to ask if Clark had any contact information for Ott.
“I can look. Can you tell me what it’s for?” replied Clark.
Cowart responded by saying: “No”
Clark then responded with a message suggesting (albeit somewhat facetiously) that Cowart reach out to Senior Assistant Attorney General Jacob Kamins who has been handling Ott’s cases as a special prosecutor for Lane County.
“Ok, so I would reach out to Jake Kamins. I’m pretty sure he has a good way to contact her. I’ll copy his number to you below.”
When sharing these messages, Clark told Equestrian Media Group that she was immediately suspicious concerning why this auction would need to transact papers with Ott while not understanding why Cowart chose to reach out to her via social media in the first place.
Clark also suspected that Cowart was likely aware of Ott’s situation due to the widespread media attention from NW Horse Report and other local news publications, which Cowart later confirmed.
Equestrian Media Group then spoke with Cowart at the Lebanon Auction Yard and asked if she was looking for Ott and if she had purchased an animal from them.
While confirming that she was indeed looking for Ott, she would not confirm or deny if Ott had purchased an animal.
“Well, we’re just looking for some paperwork information,” remarked Cowart.
Cowart also confirmed that they were aware of Ott’s probation and restrictions and eventually admitted that Ott was handling a purchase for Wade Ott, her father.
“We’re looking for her for some paperwork issues, so I’m not really sure how much information I’m free to divulge to you, but they were actually purchased for Wade [Ott],” Cowart also said.
Equestrian Media Group then asked Cowart why Ott would be allowed to conduct transactions for others. Cowart’s response avoided the question, instead responding by asking why Equestrian Media Group was calling about Ott in the first place.
This publication explained that Ott had been the subject of repeated public interest surrounding her ongoing criminal charges and alleged probation violations.
“This is not much of public interest, had nothing to do with horses, we’re dealing with it– with our issue– in-house, and so there is not any news article to it at the moment.”
Cowart was then asked why the company would engage with Ott if they knew about Ott’s legal prohibitions.
“It’s a public livestock auction; anyone who wants to walk through the doors can do so,” said Cowart.
When pressed further about the papers and Ott’s involvement with the purchase of cattle, Cowart said she had no further comment. Equestrian Media Group contacted Cowart at the Lebanon Auction Yard again just before this story was published, but she declined to comment further except to say she was happy to hear about Ott’s indictment.
It was not immediately clear if any of the new charges against Ott were tied to any incident involving the Lebanon Auction Yard.
Additional allegations made to Equestrian Media Group involving another auction company recently surfaced in late February and are still being investigated and under editorial review.
Those allegations also pointed to auction officials with another company knowingly submitting false sale reports to the Oregon Department of Agriculture for Ott under her alias sometime in 2023 after having previously transacted business with the same company immediately before under her actual name.
Ott is scheduled to be arraigned on the slew of new felony charges on March 19th in Lane County Circuit Court. Her previous probation violation hearing and mini-trial, originally scheduled on March 11th, was rescheduled for April 1st at 10 am.
This is a developing story you can count on us to keep you updated on.
Hillsboro, Ore. – A former BLM Mustang horse trainer from Oregon received a sudden and unexpected sentence last week in one of her two criminal cases that involved a total of fourteen misdemeanor charges for animal neglect and abandonment.
Horse advocates are now expressing their disappointment over the plea deal prosecutors with the Washington County District Attorney’s Office handling one of the two cases gave the defendant.
In April, Michael Jean Wells, 48, who also goes by “Mickie”, allegedly neglected her horses before abandoning them at multiple horse boarding facilities. Boarders at a boarding facility outside of Colton in Clackamas County tipped off investigators with the Oregon Humane Society’s Humane Law Enforcement team to the situation.
According to past statements by Oregon Humane Society spokesperson Laura Klink, Sound Equine Options assisted agents in taking custody of the horses after obtaining and executing a warrant in May of 2023.
The cases faced repeated delays caused by Wells, including questions regarding her claims of retaining private legal counsel despite later having to be appointed a court-appointed attorney. She also failed to appear at other hearings, leading to warrants issued for her arrest.
Equestrian Media Group and news partner Pamplin Media Group have continued to provide updated coverage over the last year as Wells’ cases moved through the courts.
“While we are grateful that Ms. Wells has been banned from owning horses for 5 years and that the horses were forfeited, we are very disappointed that she was able to make a plea agreement that did not include at least one misdemeanor charge for animal neglect in the second degree,” said Sound Equine Options’ Executive Director Kim Mosiman.
“We often see people convicted of animal neglect re-offend. This makes it important for neglect charges to be on the record so that any additional convictions are likely to result in tougher sentencing.”
Mosiman detailed their work supporting the Oregon Humane Society (OHS), whose Humane Law Enforcement team was the lead agency investigating Wells’ cases.
“In addition to caring for horses from this case for over 9 months, we have also been caring for 4 horses owned by Ms. Wells that were seized in Clackamas County. Those horses came under our care on March 7th, 2023. We are hoping for more accountability on the Clackamas County Case,” said Mosiman.
James Jacobus, an OHS spokesperson, told Equestrian Media Group: “[The] Oregon Humane Society is grateful that this case has been resolved and that the horses can move on to their new homes.”
Despite a slew of specific questions sent to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office concerning their handling of the case, Public Information Officer Stephen Mayer provided the following statement to Equestrian Media Group:
“Our goal with this prosecution was to ensure the safety of these horses. We feel that the resolution of this case accomplished that goal. With her conviction, Ms. Wells forfeited the horses that were endangered in this case. She is also now prohibited by statute from owning any horses for a period of five years. Additionally, Ms. Wells was ordered to reimburse the Oregon Humane Society more than $13,000 spent on the care of the animals.”
Mayer did not address whether the assistance from Senior Assistant Attorney General Jacob Kamins– the State’s Animal Abuse Resource Prosecutor– had been offered or requested. Kamins is currently handling similar charges against Wells on behalf of the Clackamas County District Attorney, a case which is still ongoing.
Several proponents who had been following the case reached out to Equestrian Media Group and expressed that they thought the terms for Wells were ultimately poorly written compared to similar cases, especially since the prohibition only stated that she was prohibited from ownership and not from being in the care, custody, or control of horses.
She was also surprised to learn about the entire judgment from Equestrian Media Group and not from prosecutors, considering their involvement in the case and pending requests to testify at forfeiture hearings, which had been repeatedly delayed.
Mayer also did not explain the alleged lack of communication from Deputy District Attorney Trevor Farrell.
Wells is scheduled to return to Clackamas County Circuit Court on March 25th at 1:30 p.m. for a mini-trial concerning the forfeiture of the four horses seized in that case. A six-person jury trial is also scheduled for April 16th.
You can count on NW Horse Report to keep you updated on this ongoing story.
2024 International Ms. Oregon, Amber Rosenberry, showed off her equestrian roots by revealing her boots during the organization’s event in 2023. (Photo Courtesy – Amber Rosenberry)
Portland, Ore. – Victims of stalking are pushing for a new Oregon bill that would revamp what they say is the State’s outdated anti-stalking laws. That includes Amber Rosenberry, the current International Ms. Oregon, who has also been a lifelong equestrian and horse advocate.
In a move to combat stalking, Rosenberry has taken the lead in supporting Oregon House Bill 4156. The bi-partisan legislation aims to provide stronger protections for victims of stalking and empower law enforcement agencies to address and prevent such crimes effectively.
Equestrian Media Group had also caught up just months ago with Rosenberry when she advocated for equestrian proponents calling for changes by the Chehalem Parks & Recreation District to protect riders on horseback using longtime horse trails.
Stalking, a form of harassment that often goes unnoticed or unaddressed, can have severe and lasting impacts on its victims. From incessant phone calls and messages to physical surveillance and intimidation, stalkers instill fear and anxiety, infringing upon the victim’s sense of safety and security.
According to proponents, stalking has often been difficult to prosecute, with existing laws falling short of adequately addressing the complexities of these cases.
Recognizing the urgent need for action, Ms. Oregon has made it her mission to champion the cause of anti-stalking legislation under Oregon House Bill 4156. She is drawing upon her own experiences involving an ex-boyfriend who was initially charged in 2019 with coercion, identity theft, and stalking.
“My family slept in shifts, we had someone awake at all times to keep watch and check every car on the road around me and getting off at the wrong exit and driving through parking lots to make sure I wasn’t being followed. I had a lot of concerns,” said Rosenberry in 2021 during an interview with KOIN News 6.
Equestrian Media Group spoke again with Rosenberry this week, who explained her ongoing efforts and calls to Oregonians to reach out to their legislators to express their support for these changes, believing that many in the community have a friend or family member who has been the victim of some degree at stalking.
At the heart of the proposed legislation are provisions to strengthen the legal framework surrounding stalking offenses. One key aspect is the expansion of what constitutes stalking behavior, encompassing not only physical acts but also cyberstalking and online harassment. By broadening the definition, the bill seeks to close existing loopholes and ensure that all forms of stalking are adequately addressed under the law.
Currently, the law makes stalking only a misdemeanor crime. In contrast, many laws typically support degrees that are both misdemeanor and felony level, depending on the severity and repeating nature of the crime. HB 4156 seeks to change the law to provide for both misdemeanor and felony-level charges.
According to Rosenberry, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men are victims of stalking.
Moreover, HB 4156 proposes enhancements to penalties for stalking offenses. By imposing stricter consequences, including longer prison sentences and fines, the legislation aims to deter potential perpetrators and provide a measure of justice for victims.
The bill would increase penalties for the crimes of stalking and violating a court’s stalking protective order in certain circumstances. Punishes by a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment, $250,000 fine, or both. If the bill was to pass, it would become effective July 1st.
Amber Rosenberry has been an equestrian and avid rider since a young age. (Photo Courtesy – Amber Rosenberry)
Ms. Oregon went on to outline how part of this process to bring change also involves changes in training for law enforcement to ensure that different investigators with both front-line and technical backgrounds are working cohesively and expediently in a way that recognizes the dangers that stalking victims face– especially after they come forward in court for restraining orders.
“So they will treat sending an email or text messages as stalking, but what I was finding is someone was hacking my accounts, and while that is a crime its not part of the stalking laws,” Rosenberry explained.
“It’d then mean it was a totally different group of detectives or investigators, folks who don’t understand the timeliness of protecting a victim. Any form of location tracking doesn’t count as stalking because that technology didn’t exist like it does today in the 90’s.”
Ms. Oregon’s advocacy efforts have not gone unnoticed, as she has garnered widespread support from lawmakers, advocacy groups, and the general public. Her impassioned speeches and tireless lobbying have helped propel HB 4156 forward, garnering bipartisan backing and momentum for its passage.
“It’s been extraordinary; before we even formally launched the bill, 33 representatives in the house had signaled their support for change,” said Rosenberry.
However, Rosenberry said that the road to enacting meaningful change has not been without its challenges.
Despite the bill’s merits, it faces opposition from some quarters, citing concerns about privacy rights and the potential for abuse of power. Opponents are allegedly having backdoor conversations with Oregon legislators handling the bill in committee despite public testimony already being held.
Rosenberry also explained that she hoped her efforts to use her current platform would increase citizen involvement in the legislative process– as well as bring further support for HB 4156
“If the positive that comes out of this is that more people became aware, paid more attention, and got involved in speaking out to their representatives, then I will feel very accomplished. I’ll feel even more accomplished if this bill goes through.”
As the debate over HB 4156 continues, one thing remains clear: Ms. Oregon’s unwavering commitment to changing Oregon’s anti-stalking laws has been instrumental in driving progress forward.
Update on 2/28/24 at 8:31pm – Additional details were added to this story following a press release from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office about a follow-up incident that took place on 2/23/24 that involved the seizure of further animals and even further pending charges against Ott. Ott also failed to appear for her arraignment on the morning of 2/28, resulting in bench warrants being issued for Ott in both of her new cases.
Eugene, Ore. – An Oregon woman already embroiled in probation violations from a 2019 horse neglect case near Eugene, Oregon, is now facing new charges for animal neglect as well as theft from a Coastal Farm & Ranch store.
Raina McKenzie Ott, 24, was recently arrested in early February on a warrant for the third round of alleged probation violations stemming from her conviction tied to one of Oregon’s worst and largest horse neglect cases in recent memory.
The original case was centered around Gwenyth Davies, a former friend and associate of Ott, and recieved some national media attention and coverage from the Associated Press. Ott had originally painted herself as a victim of Davies while criticizing law enforcement agencies and non-profit horse rescue officials in a video interview with KEZI 9 News. Ott’s mother, Erica Ott, was also charged and convicted and has faced her own alleged probation violations.
On Friday, Senior Deputy Attorney General Jacob Kamins, serving as a special prosecutor for the Lane County District Attorney, filed the new charges in two separate cases against Ott.
The court documents revealed that Ott’s arrest in early February was also tied to the four counts of second-degree theft.
Ott allegedly engaged in a string of thefts from the Coastal Farm & Ranch store in Eugene on four separate occasions through July and August 2023. The first incident is reported to have occurred on July 7th, 2023, only about a week after Ott was released after serving a month in county jail for earlier probation violations.
Court documents appear to corroborate the earlier reports and statements made to Equestrian Media Group by sources last summer– including by a store employee who was not authorized to speak to the media and was provided anonymity.
Those sources at the time alleged Ott had been trespassed from the store for manipulating barcodes to ring up lower prices tied to the wrong items.
The store’s general manager, Tina Bartram, had confirmed that Ott was trespassed from the store. She said their store only successfully identified Ott after she was escorted away, thanks partly to past reporting and photographs from Equestrian Media Group involving Ott.
Additional questions involving the incident were directed to Coastal’s corporate office, which has never responded to any requests from this publication on this or other stories.
A probable cause affidavit filed in Ott’s new theft case also alleges that Ott revealed her past 2018 theft at a local Walmart. Ott was charged with a felony count of theft in the first degree.
According to the documents obtained by Equestrian Media Group, Ott’s new charge for animal neglect involves discoveries made the same day Ott was arrested for the numerous probation violations and the new theft charges.
An affidavit from Stacy Manning, an animal welfare officer with Lane County Animal Services, stated that on February 1st of this year, she arrived at the Hwy 58 property where Ott resided to check on the welfare of the animals owned by Raina and Wade Ott.
Manning reports finding a dog named JoJo in a small dog kennel inside a tack room with “a strong ammonia order and feces on the floor.”
She went on further to detail in her report that the dog had a serious front leg injury: ” ‘JoJo’s’ front leg was bent underneath itself. When I asked Raina Ott about the dogs, she advised me that ‘JoJo’ and ‘Ukiah’ belong to her sister, Shae, and that ‘JoJo’ had been taken to a vet. When I asked [Ott] which vet clinic ‘JoJo’ was taken to, [Ott] advised me she did not know.”
Manning’s statement then explains she spoke with Ott’s sister, Shae, by phone. “Shae advised me she did not own any of the dogs and that ‘JoJo’ and ‘Ukiah’ belong to Raina. Shea also stated that she herself had not taken any dogs to a vet.”
Ott’s brother had also allegedly told Manning that the dogs belonged to Raina. Ott is currently prohibited under the terms of her existing probation stemming from her conviction for horse neglect of possessing or caring for any equine or other domestic animals.
According to Manning’s report, she impounded JoJo under an ordinance violation for neglect. She took the animal to an emergency veterinary hospital for immediate care, where a veterinarian determined the dog’s leg needed to be amputated. Shortly after JoJo was transferred to the Greenhill Humane Society.
The report went on to detail findings by another veterinarian at Greenhill: “Dr. Schroeder inspected the dog and on February 2, 2024, advised me that ‘JoJo’ had chronic scarring on leg due to disuse [sic] due to the old injury and had a malodorous dirty coat consistent with long-standing unsanitary living conditions. Dr. Schroeder advised that Greenhill Humane Society would amputate the leg once custody of a dog is decided.”
Ott appeared to have been released promptly after her arrest. She is scheduled for arraignment on February 28th at 8:30 am. A mini-trial and hearing on Ott’s alleged probation violations in her past case is scheduled for March 11th at 10:00 am. Both are set at the Lane County Circuit Court in downtown Eugene.
Raina Ott is pictured yelling unintelligibly at a reporter taking photos of a property that doubled as an equine facility outside Eugene from a public roadway in late April 2023. (Photo Credit – Equestrian Media Group)
No attempts to contact Ott were made due to a previous altercation in which Ott falsely alleged this reporter was trespassing in response to taking photos from a public highway interviewing an elderly neighbor. According to police who responded, Ott demanded no further contact by this publication.
The incident last year also sparked an illegal detention by Deputy Bradly May of the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, resulting in a complaint by Equestrian Media Group, prompting an internal investigation, the results of which the Sheriff’s Office would not release even after self-admitted delays in response.
Following the initial publication, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office released a statement regarding another incident at Ott’s Hwy 58 residence, corroborating earlier allegations made to Equestrian Media Group of dead cattle on the property.
The statement read:
“On Friday, Deputies responded with Lane County Animal Services to an address in the 34400 block of Highway 58. LCAS had received complaints of malnourished animals from area residents. The owner of the animals, Raina McKenzie Ott, was known to be on probation from a 2020 conviction for 11 counts of Animal Neglect in the Second Degree in which she was sentenced to 60 months of probation. While LCAS typically does initial contact on animal neglect cases, LCSO assisted due to the likely probation violation and criminal neglect of the animals.
Deputies contacted Ott at the residence and discovered several malnourished cows and emaciated companion animals living in deplorable conditions. Several decomposing cow carcasses were also found. LCAS rehoused the companion animals and is working with Ott to remove the remaining cows from the property. Possession of the cows and companion animals was in violation of her probation as well.
Ott was cited in lieu of custody for Animal Neglect in the First Degree, Animal Neglect in the Second Degree, and Contempt of Court. “
Ott also failed to attend the earlier mentioned arraignment hearing on February 28th for her newer cases. A bench warrant has been issued for her arrest.
This is a developing story you can count on us to keep you updated on.
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Harrison Brown, 26, appeared on Feb 15th, 2024, during a case management hearing in the Clackamas County Circuit Court. Brown is charged with four felony counts of sex abuse involving a then-minor. (Photo Credit – Equestrian Media Group)
Oregon City, Ore. – An attorney representing the now former staffer and alleged romantic partner of a professional horse trainer, Jill McGrady, wants journalists restricted after also making false statements to question media “objectivity” to convince the court to limit media access which is expressly allowed by court rules.
Harrison Joseph Brown, 26, was indicted by a Clackamas County grand jury in October on four felony counts of sex abuse involving a minor and arrested days after turning himself into authorities. The alleged then-minor victim, Kaylyn McGrady, now 21, is the estranged daughter of professional horse trainer Jill McGrady, who operated Quiet Rein Riding School and was the founder of the non-profit Leg Up Northwest, both of which are now shuttered.
The younger McGrady gave an exclusive interview to Equestrian Media Group in April of 2023, where she and her attorney, Russel Prince, detailed how she had initially tried to report the alleged conduct to her mother, who failed to report the incident to authorities.
Brown was permanently suspended by the US Center for SafeSport in August of 2023 following a year-long investigation into the allegations after McGrady opened up to investigators in the summer of 2022.
During a case management hearing on February 15th, Brown’s attorney, Shannon Kmetic, raised concern with the judge allowing Equestrian Media Group’s freelance reporter Raymond Rendleman to film the proceedings. A video of the incident is available by clicking here.
Rendleman is also a seasoned local reporter and current editor for multiple publications of Pamplin Media Group, including Oregon City News & the Milwaukie Review. Rendleman indicated that Kmetic is familiar with who he is.
The concern raised by Kmetic followed Brown’s family members’ objections to the media access, prompting a sheriff’s deputy to intervene and attempt to stop the filming. Judge Katherine Weber quickly intervened to stop the deputy, stating she had granted permission for reporters to record.
Immediately after the Judge made clear the recording was permitted, Kmetic alleged that this publication’s reporters had caused “commotion” and safety concerns for Mr. Brown on prior occasions.
“Judge, my concern– I understand that the court has the purview to allow that– unfortunately, these individuals have caused some commotion outside the courtroom on prior occasions, so I’m very concerned about their objectivity as it relates to these proceedings,” Kmetic told the court.
Harrison Brown appeared with his attorney, Shannon Kmetic (left), during a court hearing on Feb 15th, 2024. (Photo Credit – Equestrian Media Group)
However, reporters with this publication or Pamplin Media Group had never attended any past hearings in Brown’s case.
Kmetic promptly tried walking back her statements in emails with Equestrian Media Group, claiming she was not being specific about the conduct of any journalists but was referring to other individuals.
“If you report that, it would be inaccurate. I said individuals associated with this case, which is absolutely true. If you make statements like you indicated, they would be in error,” wrote Kmetic.
However, it was pointed out to Kmetic that her remarks were made in direct response to the issue of the media access request, which the Judge granted pursuant to court and constitutional rules that allow such access.
Kmetic also clearly said she had concerns about “objectivity,” which this publication and Rendleman believed left little doubt that it was targeted at news media in an effort to convince the court to stifle future access.
This reporter, on behalf of Equestrian Media Group, stated to Kmetic in part:
“We intend to report that your allegations are blatantly false, as neither myself, freelance reporter Raymond Rendleman or any of our other staff or freelance reporters have even attended any court hearings for your client’s case at any time until today, and no reporter affiliated with this publication has been involved in any [commotion] that you implied to the court.”
This reporter also stated, “…I hope your intent is not to provide false or misleading statements in an attempt to have the court stifle journalists’ freedom of press rights through such allegations.”
Kmetic promptly responded, saying: “If you were recording, it was without court permission. I am not going to debate with you.”
However, a court clerk confirmed before that Equestrian Media Group had approval from the court before the proceedings. Judge Weber had also established as much during the proceeding while Rendleman was clearly recording.
Kmetic went on in an attempt to intimidate this reporter from the publication of her emailed statements.
“You do not have permission to publish any of my statements. And again [sic] you do not have an order to do what you did [sic] which I intend to raise with the Court. It will not be permitted in any capacity moving forward.”
Equestrian Media Group responded by contesting Kmetic’s implication that her permission was required to publish her statements.
“You should know we do not need your permission to publish your statements, whether they have been recorded or not. As an attorney, you should know we are protected by the 1st Amendment and Article 1, Section 8 of the Oregon Consitution.”
This publication’s response also said: “While you claim we will be prohibited, I’m sure the decision would be the courts as far as being prohibited from conducting media access of the courts pursuant to UTCR 3.180 and rights afforded by the Oregon Consitution on such matters. We will absolutely contest dubious efforts to restrict ourselves or any other media representatives from being prohibited from engaging in a constitutionally protected activity.”
Kmetic also went on to demand we no longer contact her and that she and her client would have no further statements.
In Oregon, Media access to the courts is generally required to be granted according to rights afforded under Article 1, Section 10, of the Oregon Consitution.
According to the Reporters Commitee for the Freedom of the Press, a determination was made by the 1987 Oregon Supreme Court in the case of Oregonian Publ’g Co. v. O’Leary, which is protection also separate from that provided by the 6th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution as affirmed in the 1980 case of Oregonian Publ’g Co. v. Deiz.
These cases have resulted in the adoption of Uniform Trial Court Rules by the Oregon trial courts that expressly provide for camera access by media representatives.
Equestrian Media Group quickly obtained the court audio from the Feb 15th hearing through public records, which further verified the statements made by Kmetic during the hearing.
While it was clear Kmetic attempted to tie reporters to the alleged conduct by other individuals outside the courthouse, no evidence or additional details about those allegations are known or could be confirmed.
Brown’s next court hearing is scheduled for March 18th at 8:30am at the Clackamas County Courthouse.
A photo of Raina Ott in April of 2023 at the location of her alleged illegal business off Hwy 58 near Eugene, where she and her mother allegedly continued to violate probation conditions following convictions for horse neglect. (Photo Credit – Equestrian Media Group)
Creswell, Ore – A woman convicted for her role in the notorious 2019 horse neglect case involving Gwenyth Davies, is facing new charges for allegedly violating numerous terms of her probation– all despite having been found in violation of probation twice previously and serving 45 days in jail.
Raina McKenzie Ott, 24, who has a lengthy history of issues stemming from her legal is alleged by Senior Assistant Attorney General Jacob Kamins of violating her probation terms, including:
failing to pay fees, fines, and restitution;
possessing and selling of a cow;
failing to complete an animal rehab course;
not removing social media posts, pages, and websites relating to animals;
purchasing, breading, and boarding of animals;
and operating or advising an animal-related business.
Davies is also currently wanted on a warrant for alleged violations of her probation but has been avoiding authorities for over half a year. It had been rumored Davies had left the State and been involved in a horse operation in Northern California. However, Equestrian Media Group could not confirm the accuracy of the rumors.
Following the latest allegations against Ott, an arrest warrant was issued, resulting in her arrest and release on February 6th. She then appeared at her arraignment on February 15th, denying the allegations of probation violations.
Ott’s case was then scheduled for a mini-trial hearing on March 11th, 2024 at 10 am, at the Lane County Circuit Court.
Kamin’s assignment to the case is on behalf of the Lane County District Attorney. The role of the State’s Animal Abuse Resource Prosecutor was recently made a more formal position at the Oregon Department of Justice following the passage of Oregon Senate Bill 5506 last year, a position having previously been titled the Animal Cruelty Deputy District Attorney.
The role involves support for law enforcement and district attorneys across the State of Oregon, both in a direct and indirect capacity, on criminal cases.
In 2020, Ott was initially offered a deferred sentencing agreement following a plea deal with the Lane County District Attorney’s Office but ultimately failed to attend the deferred sentencing hearing two years later in November of 2022, prompting the issuance of an arrest warrant.
Ott was arrested shortly after and released with an order to appear at later hearings. According to court records, her mother, Erica Ott, received probation and has also engaged in similar probation violations.
Equestrian Media Group had also uncovered and previously reported that Ott was also offering to provide interstate transport of horses and also leave the State in violation of her probation violation.
In January of 2023, Ott was ultimately found to have not complied with the provisions of her deferred sentencing agreement, resulting in a formal sentence of jail time and probation. However, Judge Curtis Conover permitted in his ruling for Lane County Jail officials to allow– at their discretion– alternative work crew service instead of actual time in jail.
Raina Ott during a May 2023 hearing following an arrest for failure to attend alternative work crew service in lieu of in-custody jail time. (Photo Credit – Equestrian Media Group)
Two months later, Ott was charged for promptly skipping out and not reporting to the alternative work crew duty shifts, resulting in the issuance of another warrant.
Weeks later, in April of 2023, despite having an active warrant for her arrest, Ott made allegations against this reporter and Equestrian Media Group to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, falsely claiming acts of trespass for five consecutive days, which prompted a quick response by police to the property where this reporter was interviewing with an elderly neighbor of Ott about her concerns and interactions.
The response later led to a complaint by Equestrian Media Group against LCSO Deputy Bradly May after illegally detaining and attempting to prevent a consensual interview with a neighbor of Ott and to force this reporter to leave the public highway for filming.
Ott was not arrested at the time despite being pictured on the property minutes earlier. According to police records, she allegedly told Deputy May she was nearly 30 minutes away to avoid being arrested on the warrant at that time.
Ott was arrested a couple of days after the incident and promptly released again.
In May of 2023, Ott was again sentenced to 45 days in jail, but this time, a different judge, Judge Debra Vogt, did not allow the Lane County Jail officials to permit alternative service on the sentence.
In August of 2023, weeks after Ott was released after serving over a month in the Lane County Jail, she was trespassed by a Coastal Farm & Ranch Store in Eugene for alleged fraud. Company officials confirmed to Equestrian Media Group that the trespass was due not to her past legal issues but from matters directly between Ott and the store.
A source who spoke only on the condition of anonymity, as they were an employee of the store, later told Equestrian Media Group that Ott was buying baby chickens and other animal care products but was attempting to modify barcodes to adjust the pricing.
No criminal charges have been brought against Ott over the alleged incidents.
Elizabeth Brooks, a woman who purchased a cow last year from the Otts, filed a civil lawsuit last month alleging the duo defrauded her by selling a sick cow that ultimately had to be put down a week later despite medical interventions.
“The cow was not producing 4 gallons per day as described by the defendant,” read the legal complaint, which also referred to Ott’s probation.
“The defendant used the alias “Hailey Saxton” to sell the dairy cow to avoid conditions of her bench probation which prohibit her from being in possession or sale of livestock.”
Brooks also confirmed to Equestrian Media Group that she ultimately learned more about Ott, piecing together various aliases and details about her conviction for animal neglect, thanks to this publication’s reporting.
“Your reporting helped me put this whole thing together– so thank you for that,” Brooks said.
Brooks also revealed that she reported her situation to prosecutors and believed that was part of what ultimately led to at least some of the alleged probation violations. Brooks also explained that she had spoken to other alleged victims of the Otts.
In recent days, another alleged victim in Douglas County (whom Brooks did not know), Denise Peterson, detailed her own horrific experiences with Ott on social media posts. They also went on to detail multiple other aliases used by Ott. Peterson explained a cow she purchased from Ott is currently getting lifesaving treatment with the help of Baileys Veterinarian Clinic located in Roseburg.
The aliases also matched those provided by Brooks, including Hailey Saxton, Hayden Durfey, and Raina McKenzie (the latter being a use of her middle name).
Brooks also explained that she has suggested contacting the Lane County District Attorney’s office to other victims.
Ott is back in Lane County Circuit Court on March 11th at 10 am.
This is a developing story that we will continue to keep you updated on. If you believe you may have been a victim of Ott, Equestrian Media Group would like to speak with you.
Delanie Greer with her horse LeMon, who was shot and killed in Washington State in December of 2023. (Photo Credit – Delanie Greer)
Tacoma, Wash. – A man from Snohomish County in Washington State was arrested and charged in connection with both the shooting death of a horse in Tacoma as well as a double homicide in the city of Maple Valley.
According to the Piece County Sheriff’s Office, their animal control officers are investigating the December 17th shooting and death of a horse at a stable in Tacoma. According to court documents, King County detectives identified the suspect as Brandon Gerner.
Gerner allegedly shot and killed the horse following the memorial service for his friend, Kody Olsen, 45, who was killed during a shootout with Pierce County deputies earlier in December. Olsen had opened fire on the deputies following a DUI traffic stop, wounding two deputies.
Olsen later died from his injuries.
Olsen has a history with law enforcement. In 2014, Olsen was tracked by the U.S. Marshals Service and local police and arrested on federal probation violation charges, resisting arrest, as well as felon in possession of a firearm and stolen property,
Court documents alleged that Gerner shot and killed the horse as a “sacrifice” for his dead friend.
One of the horses’ owners, Fred Greer, spoke with KIRO 7 News.
“We were relieved to find out that someone had been arrested and then as more news came out on the other circumstances, we were also saddened by the other two people who had been killed,” said Greer. “But we’ve been kind of worried that it was a random act.”
“We’re happy, but we’re still saddened by what happened,” he also said.
The horse, named LeMon, reportedly belonged to Geer’s daughter, Delanie Greer, who had the horse for over a decade. She and LeMon competed across the country, including in shows with the Appaloosa Horse Club Youth World Championships.
According to the court documents, Gerner, Olsen, and another man, Joshua Jones, were involved in multiple white supremacist groups and are linked to a double murder case in Maple Valley.
Firefighters with Clackamas Fire, along with the help of Molalla Fire Dispatch, work to extract a horse from a muddy ditch on a local farm. (Photo Courtesy – Clackamas Fire)
Molalla, Ore. – Firefighters from multiple agencies helped rescue a horse stuck in a muddy trench on Friday in a rural area outside of Portland, Oregon.
According to Capt. Clinton Shaver with the Molalla Fire District, he and his crew were dispatched to a farm outside Molalla on Friday to help a horse after a call from a local veterinarian.
After arriving and assessing the situation, Shaver’s team contacted Clackamas Fire, who had firefighters trained in technical large animal rescue and had the proper rescue equipment.
“We learned the horse was in dire straights, so we bumped up the resource response,” Shaver told Equestrian Media Group by phone Saturday morning.
“The rescue went well– we don’t know what the final outcome was for the animal– she was pretty tired and had been in the water for several hours.”
After getting the horse out of the water, Shaver explained how crews and the veterinarian started working to actively warm the horse and provide some materials to the veterinarian and owner.
Shaver detailed that Clackamas Fire dispatched a heavy rescue truck and other resources, including a battalion chief.
Clackamas Fire stated on their Facebook page: “Heavy Rescue 305 and Truck 316 crews overcame a few obsticals [sic] and worked systematically to ensure the horse was not injured during the rescue. Well done by all members involved.”
“We donated some warm hot packs and fluids to the veterinarian and owner to assist,” Shaver explained.
Firefighters with Clackamas Fire, along with the help of Molalla Fire Dispatch, work to extract a horse from a muddy ditch on a local farm. (Photo Courtesy – MolallaFire Dispatch)
When Shaver was asked about their firefighters having technical large animal rescue training, he explained that the district previously had volunteers and equipment for such a purpose, but had issues with attrition and volunteer levels that contributed to the demise of those capabilities.
Shaver said the Molalla Fire Dispatch and his team are grateful for having a strong partnership with Clackamas Fire and for their assistance during on this rescue.
“We very much work to partner with agencies like Clackamas Fire Dispatch 1 and others to provide mutual support where we can,” said Shaver.
Shaver also detailed that due to the lack of individuals qualified for in large animal rescue, they gave their equipment to a non-profit horse rescue in the area that appeared to be more engaged in performing horse rescues.
However, he explained the device was never returned after the organization was dissolved, not long after they were given the equipment.
Clackamas Firefighters also regularly attend the Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue Courses hosted by the Oregon Horse Council. The training course is taught by world-renowned expert Dr. Rebecca Husted. The next 2-day awareness course is scheduled for April 20-21 in Hood River.
Equestrian Media Group has not yet been able to identify the veterinarian or owner involved in this rescue in order to learn more details about the horse’s current conditions.
We will update the story with more details as we learn them.
Toby Keith while performing “Bear For My Horses” at the American Music Awards in 2003. He was joined by Willie Nelson.
Oklahoma – Country music singer-songwriter Toby Keith, who made his major debut in 1993 with his popular single “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” died late Monday, according to a statement on his website. He was 62.
Posted earlier today, the statement on his official website stated: “Toby Keith passed peacefully last night on February 5th surrounded by his family. He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time.”
Keith was also a rodeo hand in his early days before reaching country music fame.
In 2003, he also released one of his top singles called “Beer for My Horses” and reached $22 on the Billboard Hot 100, although it had mixed reviews from critics. The song also featured country music legend Willie Nelson.
Keith had announced in the summer of 2022 that he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer and was being treated with chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.
In a December interview with Oklahoma’s KWTV, Keith stated he was still in treatment. “Cancer is a roller coaster,” he said. “You just sit here and wait on it to go away– it may not ever go away.”
He talked about how his Christian faith was helping him get through the treatment and the potentially dark outcome.
Keith was well known for writing or at least co-writing much of his material. Over 60 of his singles also reached the country music charts, including 20 No. 1 hits. He also sold over 40 million albums worldwide. He was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015.
Before hitting it big in 1993, Keith had multiple jobs to support his family. Besides being a rodeo hand, he worked in the Oklahoma oil fields and was a semi-professional football player.
One of Keith’s most prominent instances was with his No. 1 hit in 2002 titled “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)”. Keith wrote the song following the deadly attacks on 9/11. The death of his father, a disabled military veteran who died a year earlier in an automobile accident, also influenced the song.
At times, Keith confounded his critics with his music and public statements. He also described himself as a conservative Democrat.
“I don’t apologize for being patriotic,” Keith said in a 2007 interview with Newsday.
Keith is survived by his mother; his wife, Tricia; two daughters, Shelly and Krystal; a son, Stelen; a sister, Tonnie; a brother, Tracy; and four grandchildren.
