Men on Meth Who Filmed Themselves Torturing Goats With Medieval Weapon Sentenced to Jail

Three Virginia men were sentenced to three years in prison for torturing two goats with the encouragement of their owner, who will serve one year in jail.

Haile Morgan, the goats' owner, initially denied to police that they were on the property, but officers found their mangled bodies, prompting an investigation. A video from June 18, 2020, showed the group beating the goats with a spiked mace, a medieval weapon, slitting their throats and ordering dogs to attack them.

"You've lost some humanity, and I hope you're able to get it back at some point," Judge Ricardo Rigual said at the sentencing hearing, according to The Free Lance-Star.

Andrew J. Haefele, 37, Donald Ray Compton Jr., 35, and Charles E. McKinney, 35, were each found guilty of felony maiming of an animal and were sentenced to three years in prison for it. Compton also faces an additional three years for possessing a gun as a felon and violating his probation.

"The video depicted a gruesome scene in which the goats ultimately died," a Spotsylvania County Sheriff's spokesperson told WTVR. "When the animals were found by deputies of Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office- Animal Control later that day, the goats were found under objects, not in plain view, as if hidden."

After the four people were arrested, PETA called for Spotsylvania County Commonwealth attorney Travis Bird to "vigorously prosecute" them. Stephanie Bell, PETA's senior director, said if they are convicted, they should be jailed, as well as, undergo psychiatric counseling and be banned from having contact with animals.

Police responded to the Virginia home after a neighbor called and Spotsylvania Sheriff's Captain Liz Scott told WJLA a video showed Morgan encouraging her dogs to attack the goats. Court records show Morgan was found guilty of two charges of cruelty to animals and sentenced to two years. However, since the charges are all misdemeanors, she'll only serve half of that time.

The men's attorneys took issue with Morgan's sentencing and Christopher Reyes, Compton's attorney, said it "boggles the mind," that she wasn't facing more serious charges. Since the goats were Morgan's, The Free Lance-Star reported she couldn't be convicted of a felony.

Prosecutor Ryan Mehaffey characterized the defendants as "meth heads" and defense attorney Jim Ilijevich said his client had been using methamphetamines for five straight days. Given the level of drug use, he said the defendant doesn't remember the incident.

Rigual rejected the defense's plea for leniency because of drug use, according to The Free Lance-Star, and said it wasn't an excuse for the behavior.