MENOMINEE - The owners of cattle which were brutally beaten last summer, had their say in court and were satisfied with the prison convictions handed down by the judge Monday.
Three cattle belonging to Gary and Tammy Niarhos, of Wilson, were tortured on July 17, 2011. The purebred Angus beef were put in a cattle chute and stabbed and beaten. Two pregnant heifers had to be euthanized because they were so severely injured. A bull recovered, but will never be used for breeding again.
Two defendants in the case - Nicholas Michael Leisner, 18, and Peter John Sauve, 17, both of Escanaba - were sentenced Monday in Menominee County Circuit Court to two to four years in prison on three counts of animal torture. A third defendant, Chad Meier Jr., of Escanaba, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of animal torture.
Prior to Judge Mary Barglund's rulings against Leisner and Sauve, members of the Niarhos family were allowed to present statements to the court. Gary and Tammy Niarhos and their daughter, Heather Niarhos, each spoke.
Tammy Niarhos said the two defendants committed "a gruesome act" and need to be held accountable for their actions.
Speaking on behalf of justice, her family, and "those pathetic voiceless animals," Mrs. Niarhos said it was difficult to put into words how this incident has affected family members.
"We will never forget the pure evil that took place that night to our animals on our property, yards away while we slept," she said. "The shock of my husband finding his cows - that he had pampered, sweated, worried, sacrificed and devoted his life to - with their bowels, blood and guts hanging from them while still alive."
She explained how the pregnant cows and bull had been corralled into a cattle chute where they were mutilated and tortured "for fun."
"What has become of our society?" she questioned.
Heather Niarhos told the court that she is appalled by the circumstances which have brought her family to court.
"Those two heifers that were raised by my family from birth did not have the chance to give birth to the first two calves they carried," she said. "Bubs (the bull) will never have the chance to sire any offspring. Those gentle animals were cut down in the prime of their lives."
She called the defendants cowards.
"We will never understand what would cause a human being to do what you have done," she added.
Gary Niarhos spoke about what his family has suffered with the three cattle beatings and the loss of the two heifers and the bull's ability to breed.
"The pictures speak for themselves," he said of the acts of torture. "What they took is one complete generation which will never come back."
Mr. Niarhos also reminded the court how the two defendants had "not fessed up" when arrested after the beatings.
Leisner and Sauve each pleaded not guilty during their arraignments in district court in July. Nearly five months later in December, the two pleaded guilty to three counts of animal torture/killing.
Following the sentencing of Leisner and Sauve, Gary Niarhos said he feels like he can believe in the criminal justice system.
"I had my doubts," he said, adding he was satisfied with Monday's two prison sentencings.
Tammy Niarhos said she had mixed emotions about the outcome.
"I hope these boys do learn and I hope they do well in life," she said. "I did want justice for our animals and that's what happened."
Her husband added, "I think it was just. I do feel sorry for them (the defendants) but they put themselves there. Now, if they'll only learn from this."
Tammy and Gary Niarhos both agreed they're hoping the court proceedings come to an end soon so they can put this behind them and go on with their lives.
Meier, who was arrested in early December, is scheduled for a pretrial conference hearing in circuit court on Monday. At that time, he may make a decision to plea or go to trial on the three felony charges.
- - -
Jenny Lancour, (906) 786-2021, ext. 143, jlancour@dailypress.net
