A South Bay city leader could be looking at jail time. The Treasurer of National City, Mitch Beauchamp, is facing animal cruelty charges for allegedly capturing and killing pests on his property.
Beauchamp is in charge of the receipts and safe keeping of all money coming into the city, but what he told NBC 7 he did with skunks, opossums, and raccoons in his yard is accounting that his neighbors just can’t factor or can it?
He showed NBC 7 how he uses a live trap to capture nuisance animals on his property, but the city treasurer says it’s what he did with them afterward that got him into trouble, but, should it get him in trouble?
It is alleged, that Mitch drowned the rodent animals. Now it would seem cruel but think about where he lives and further think about the current animal control policies of National City. Maybe he knows there just isn’t enough money to support control and he handled it himself. In effect, Mr. Beauchamp has saved the city money and lowered his citizen footprint on the available resources and budget.
“It is pretty frightening to be living next to somebody that thinks this is OK,” neighbor Stephanie Norton said. It should be noted that the neighbor Stephanie Norton may also have a rodent issue but accepts the way things are.
Norton was questioned by Animal Control after Beauchamp called them to pick up two dead skunks. Mr. Beauchamp confirms an autopsy revealed they drowned. “Coming from somebody that works for the city and, supposedly, city workers should know the laws,” neighbor Marie DaCosta said. Of course this isn’t about the law as much as riding his back yard of pesky varmints.
The District Attorney filed a complaint Monday against Beauchamp.He’s charged with six criminal misdemeanor counts including animal cruelty, unlawful harassment and trapping of animals.If convicted, Beauchamp could spend up to a year behind bars.On the advice of his attorney, the city Treasurer spoke to us only off camera, and asked his face not be shown.”It’s sad to be cruel to animals. We’re animal lovers so to us that is cruel,” DaCosta said.Neighbors on both sides condemn the practice.Stephanie Norton often heard and smelled the skunks trying to free them.”It is pretty terrifying. Animals don’t make nice noises when they are trying to get out and save themselves so the smell was horrifying,” Norton said.After repeated questioning by NBC 7, Beauchamp admitted he captured and drowned those animals, but argued his method is no more cruel than what the state allows.
State laws allow local government employees — who are licensed to do so– to capture nuisance animals and exterminate them immediately by only two methods: shooting or chemical euthanasia.
The city treasurer says his attorney is currently working on a settlement to the case and expects an agreement to be reached very soon.
Source: NBC San Diego
Be First to Comment