Big Story Follow UP

BIA to impound neglected horses, auction set for March 24

Posted: Mar 12, 2011 10:57 PM by Amanda Venegas
Updated: Mar 12, 2011 11:06 PM

BILLINGS - The Bureau of Indian Affairs says it now has the authority to roundup hundreds of neglected horses in the James Leachman case. An auction has been set for March 24. BIA Rocky Mountain Regional Director Ed Parisian says on Friday a contract with the Crow Agency was finalized to roundup hundreds of horses.

Last month, the BIA posted a notice of intent to impound the livestock, because of a federal code violation. If an animal is found trespassing on tribal lands, an investigator will first check on the complaint. Once notified, the responsible party has five days to respond.

Parisian says the notice ended on Thursday and the office was able to finalize an agreement with the Crow Agency to do the work. The contract or grant comes with a price tag of $45,000. Technically, the BIA could roundup the horses at any time, but will wait to fix up an old bull pen to hold the animals that is on the Stovall family's property, east of Billings. That work will begin on Monday. Ironically, the bull pen was at one time used for Leachman's cattle sales.

Over the next two weeks, the horses will be rounded up and sorted. Parisian says there is "a lot of unbranded horses." He estimates there are more than 500 horses in the Tsurgi pasture. An auction will be held on March 24 and officials are unsure how they will price the horses.

Even with the expired notice, Leachman could still move his horses before the roundup. However, once the BIA gathers the horses he would be faced with an assessment fee if he wanted them back for trespassing on tribal lands. That fee would be at least $45,000.

Q2 contacted James Leachman Friday evening. He said he had no comment. Meanwhile, Leachman's jury trial for animal cruelty charges is scheduled for June 3.