Accused Western District farmer Joseph Dare awaiting sentence indication
A well known Western District cattle farmer, who is accused of more than 70 animal welfare offences, could learn his fate in two months’ time. See the latest.
A well known Western District cattle farmer, who is accused of more than 70 animal welfare offences, could learn his fate in two months’ time.
Dreeite farmer Joseph Dare appeared in the Colac Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning, where his legal representative told the court they were seeking a sentence indication for the matter.
Mr Dare, a livestock agent and well-known Colac-district sporting identity, was charged with 33 offences related to animal cruelty in last September, including allegedly failing to provide veterinary or appropriate attention, and adequate supervision to cattle in 2023, and a further 10 charges related to allegations in 2022.
Court documents released to The Weekly Times in April revealed, DEECA had charged Mr Dare with a further 13 aggravated animal cruelty charges and 16 animal cruelty charges for alleged offending between November 2023 to January 2024, taking the total number of charges up to 72.
The animal cruelty charges include eight counts of unreasonably failing to provide veterinary or other appropriate attention or treatment for the animal and seven counts of failing to provide a confined animal, or otherwise unable to provide for itself, with proper and sufficient food.
Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action prosecutor Scott Ward told the court there was an “unusually lengthy” summary of evidence against Mr Dare which included photographs and some short video clips.
Magistrate Peter Mellas adjourned the matter until Monday, July 21 where a sentence indication will be heard in the Colac Magistrates’ Court.
A sentence indication is a legislated procedure that provides an opportunity for alleged offenders to get a general understanding of the sentence they would likely receive if they entered a plea of guilty.
The charges against Mr Dare accuse him of failing to provide adequate supervision to his mob of 160 cattle causing unreasonable pain or suffering, between July and August 2023.
The charges also allege Mr Dare committed aggravated cruelty against more than 20 cows, causing “serious disablement”.
Mr Dare farms on about 1000ha in the Nalangil district, about 15km west of Colac, and was formerly a player on Carlton’s AFL list. He is also premiership coach at the Alvie Football
Club.
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