Trial dates for the mayor of Friday Harbor, Raymont Jackson, charged with one count of animal cruelty in the second degree, will be set on Sept. 30 in San Juan County District Court.

On Aug. 19, Jackson, 59, entered a plea of not guilty. A pretrial conference was held on Sept. 23. Attorney Robert Bulloch represents Jackson. Last week, his plea to have his pet returned to him was denied.

Animal cruelty in the second degree is a gross misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for up to 364 days, a fine of up to $5,000 or both. It is a less severe charge than animal cruelty in the first degree, which is a Class C felony.

Jackson filed a civil suit against the Sheriff’s Office, requesting that his dog be returned to him. On Sept. 26, Judge Carolyn Jewett-Platts heard arguments from Bulloch and San Juan County Prosecutor Amy Vira.

Vira asked for the case to be dismissed on two grounds: the process service on the San Juan County Sheriff was not complete, and the bond money had “run out.”

Bulloch stated that he was “unaware” and “shocked” that service was brought up as an issue, as he had met with the prosector multiple times and Vira had not mentioned it to him. He also said Jackson’s wife served the sheriff, but did not have proof at the time of the hearing.

Bulloch called it a technical issue and stated that “the spirit of the law, not the letter of the law,” should be taken into account, and that the parties were aware the hearing was occurring as they were present.

“This is not a technical matter, it’s a very important issue,” Jewett-Platts said, adding that the incomplete service was discussed at a hearing on Sept. 11.

Jewett-Platts ruled that the service was not completed, and regarding the bond, she said it was “problematic” and that she reads the statute differently than Vira, asserting that time is a factor, not money. The original bond expired Sept. 8, and Bulloch said they were prepared to pay for a new bond; however, since it had been expired for over 72 hours, Jackson forfeited his right to ownership. Jewett-Platts stated that the agency that seized the animal (the Sheriff’s Office) and the agency in possession of the animal (the animal shelter) now have authority over the care of the dog.

Bulloch said the dog is part of the Jackson family, and they’ve been unable to “share their side of the story,” which this hearing provided an opportunity to do so.

Jackson was elected mayor in 2021. His four-year tenure is up this year, and although he ran for re-election, he did not make it past the primary, receiving only 12.48% of the vote. His term will end in January.

Details of the case

On Aug. 9, a deputy was dispatched to a call regarding an animal at large. The reporting party stated that a dog from her neighborhood came to her home in a visibly distressed state.

According to the probable cause statement, the 15-pound terrier mix, named Sasha, was visibly shaking and wearing an extremely tight shock collar that was emitting a foul odor and had “blackish ooze” around it. She also observed blood and skin that had been rubbed raw on the animal’s neck.

Upon arrival, Sasha was friendly and approached the deputy. While he was petting her, she rolled on her back, and he observed burn marks on the dog’s neck fur in addition to the open wound. He wrote that the collar, which had been removed, had a pungent, rotting odor that was detectable “5 feet away.” The collar also had one prong missing.

Sasha was transported to the animal shelter, where a veterinarian provided an exam. The vet’s report stated that she had a puncture wound, with underlying tissues consistent with chronic inflammation and 4 centimeters of inflamed tissue. The vet also noted that the canine’s toenails were “very long, most curling sideways.”

The deputy spoke with Jackson, who stated that Sasha had gotten loose and was not aware of the dog’s neck injury. He acknowledged there was a smell but presumed she had rolled in something. When asked how the shock collar prong became embedded in her neck, Jackson said, “The prong was not that way. She had a loose-fitting collar on her when we had her.” He also informed the deputy that his dog’s nails had been cut at the vet a month and a half prior.

When the deputy told Jackson his dog was in pain, he allegedly replied, “Well, I’d be in pain too if she ran out through the gate and got zapped over.” Jackson was issued a notice of seizure for Sasha and a citation for animal cruelty.