70,000 Chickens Are Dead, Joshua Shelton Was Just Looking For A Light Switch

[Dakota Valkyrie]

If only there was some simple way to keep drunkards out of chicken houses...

Delmar man faces several criminal charges after his alleged actions caused the deaths of almost 70,000 chickens.

Joshua D. Shelton, 21, was charged in connection with the incident. Police said Shelton reportedly shut off the power to three chicken houses.

"The theory is that he may have been in there looking for a light switch," said Lt. Tim Robinson of the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office.
[...]

Shockley found the chickens Saturday morning and the flock, which had been deprived of food, water and cooling fans, was supposed to be delivered on Sunday.

"Shockley advised that without power, the chickens will begin to die within 15 minutes," according to charging documents.

Shelton was found lying in the power control shed by the circuit breakers, wearing a T-shirt and boxers, the sheriff's office reported.

He smelled of alcohol and did not know how he got into the shed or remember touching the breakers, according to charging documents.
[...]

Shelton was at a gathering outside the home with a few people -- including Shockley's daughter -- according to charging documents. After his daughter told everyone to go home, she thought Shelton had left.

"Instead of leaving, he wandered into the shed where the power controls were and ended up turning off the power," Robinson said.

Crimes involving the death of a mass number of chickens are not common, Robinson said.

"This is a first for me in my almost 20-year career," Robinson said.

An incident like this is also surprising to Bill Satterfield, executive director of Delmarva Poultry Industry Inc.

"I have never heard of a drunkard going in and killing chickens," he said. "This is a new one on me, and it's unfortunate that it occurred."
[...]

http://www.delawareonline.com/articl...ad-man-charged

[JGo555]

If only there was some simple way to keep drunkards out of chicken houses...

http://www.delawareonline.com/articl...ad-man-charged

Make his ass pay as if he had bought the whole flock.

Fuck.

You can't even eat them.

Why is it that getting drunk beyond all thought seems appealing to some people? Why does it seem fun? Fuck that. Personally I find it horrible.

[Wolf_of_Mars]

His actions may have just put the owner out of business, and put him in a position to be sued by the company he was supposed to deliver the chickens to...

[biteme]

This is why you don't send a bunch of drunks home

[Obsolete]

Why the fuck wasn't there a backup system? If you have that many chickens at stake maybe you shouldn't rely on one fucking light switch to keep them all alive. Maybe a breaker box, a key pad...anything would be better than a light switch. It isn't like the guy was doing anything wrong, I don't think he should have to pay shit. They invited him onto their property and they served him alcohol, if he had driven home drunk and killed himself they would have been legally responsible. Why is he being charged for trying to turn on a light?

[ibutterflyaway]

I actually feel really bad for this guy. Did they announce at the party "By the way - if you go into the chicken coop, don't mess with the switches cuz they could all die"? How is he supposed to know? And ya - how no back up? They've never EVER had a power outage? I'm sure that farmer had insurance. There's no way he didn't have his inventory insured. That poor kid is 21 years old. Just starting the drinking thing (maybe... what do I know) so he was having fun and doing what kids do. I'm sure he feel horrible about this terrible accident. Maybe they can just make him work at the coop and learn about chickens and stuff. He certainly doesn't deserve jail time or a fine.

[cubby]

I would think a lock on this all important box with the all important switches would have been.....all important. My breaker box is not put somewhere that anybody can open it up and have a look see. It does seem a little strange to have it right where anybody could get to it and tamper with it. Strange there was no back up or alarms to let the owner know that possibly his chickens were in distress. It might have been a cost issue, but I if it was, I think the owner now knows it would be worth whatever it costs to keep his chickens comfortable and alive.