Comins v. Van Voorhis
On May 19, 2008, a man named Christopher M. Comins shot two Siberian huskies in a field in Orange County, FL. I reacted by blogging about the events and how they affected me:
6/6/08: Barbarian Dog Assassin (w/Friends in High Places)
8/17/08: Husky Shooter Update: Chris Comins May Face Charges
Thanks in part to a grassroots Internet movement and an online petition signed by thousands, Chris Comins currently faces third degree felony charges for animal cruelty.
I am now being sued by Christopher Comins for writing about what happened.
As a lover of dogs and of the First Amendment, I believe it was my right to speak out. I’ve decided to defend that right in court. Even if it means going into debt, I will not allow this rich and powerful bully to intimidate me into silence.
Thank you to all who have offered support and encouragement. For those that have asked how to contribute to my Legal Defense Fund, here’s the link.
Please feel free to spread the word about my situation, and check back soon for updates.
June 26, 2009 at 6:36 pm |
please get intouch with me for i am going through the same thing you are. i have posted & reposted the huskies story many times & ive been keeping up with all the updates. today the trial began & i cant wait until the mess hits the fan. please contact me for my bassethound was shot & killed by my neighbor & he has sued me as well
July 2, 2009 at 6:17 pm |
Hopefully you will be fine. You have every right to blog about your thoughts and feelings on the subject. What a horrible, horrible person he is.
July 3, 2009 at 9:04 am |
Does anyone know if they are doing petition on this? If so please please send the link to me.
July 24, 2009 at 3:25 am |
Hi Naoko-
There were several petitions against Christopher Comins. Here are two of them.
Justice for Husky Dogs Shot in Orange County Florida
Max Sentence for Dog Shooter
A google search with the words “petition” alongside “Christopher Comins” or “dog shooter” should turn up several others.
As for the “Comins v. VanVoorhis” trial, no petitions so far that I’m aware of. However, if you know concerned citizens who want to help, be sure to spread the word that this is the site to do it:
http://www.lawrencewalters.com/billing/index.php?custid=7022
People can contribute to the blogger’s legal defense fund by clicking here.
So far it looks like Christopher Comins is targeting students and others who he thinks can’t afford to fight back. He’s apparently intimidated a lot of bloggers into taking their sites down that way. Effectively killed the grassroots movement that had been so effective against him before he started suing people. VanVoorhis caught Comins off-guard because he cares deeply about the cause, retained the services of the best First Amendment law firm in FL and I guess is willing to go into debt if he has to.
Chris Comins is a truly nasty character, and a real bully. If you read the comments from his ex-wives on various websites you’ll know what I mean.
July 26, 2009 at 12:31 pm
I remember last summer this story was all over the blogs. Now it’s pretty hard to find anything recent about it. Either nobody cares anymore, or everybody got sued.
August 27, 2009 at 1:00 am |
I am the owner of the Huskies. He tried to sue me as well. He tried to threaten and intimidate his ex wife as well when he found out she had contacted me. We both stood up to him. In my opinion he is nothing but a bully who seems to think arming himself and threatening people will make them back down. He is facing jail and he knows it. There are still a lot of people supporting the charges. The ALDF is monitoring the case closely. Fight people,fight. I would appreciate it if the author of the article would contact me as I would dearly love to speak to him.
From my personal viewpoint, Mr comins is the most despicable person I have had the misfortune to meet.
August 27, 2009 at 1:07 am |
By the way comins is trying to get the charges dismissed. He was due to have his hearing tomorrow 27th Aug. The prosecutor called me this evening to tell me she had asked for a continuance. The hearing will probably take place the first week in Oct. The state is forging ahead with felony animal cruelty charges. Don’t believe this is going away. He is not going to bully the state into stepping back.
The prosecutor is Erin de Young. If anybody still feels strongly enough you can write to encourage her keep the pressure on comins.
October 14, 2009 at 6:39 am |
Chris Butler-
Couple things. What do you have to say about all these rumors we’ve been hearing about how the prosecutor & cops have told Comins this is all just a formality, that he will eventually get off, but that they just have to “pretend” to take this case seriously due to all the “political and community pressure.” Is that seriously how the law works in your bush league community.??
It is bullshit that Comins and his paid meatheads have a more signifivant presence at the courthouse than you & your supporters. I have a full crew from Virginia that I’d love to bring down for support for the next round of trials or whatever. But what’s the deal? Will it even make a difference? It truly sounds as if this case is already over and we’re all just going thru the motions (as much as I hate to say that).
Secondly, Mr. Butler, if I blog about this will I too be nailed by this dipshit dog missing prick?
I have a TON of readership, particularly in the ACC & SEC during football season, but I’m not about to spread the word and risk my reputation if I and I alone will liable for wharever horse shit charges this coward Chris Comins brings against me. Sounds like this VanVoorhis guy has been taken out of commission by these clowns. No offense, but I can’t take that kind of a hit on behalf of a stranger who seems to half-assing his way thru this thing.
September 17, 2009 at 11:46 pm |
Horrible.
October 8, 2009 at 1:55 am |
Mr. Van Voorhis:
Our organization (www.voicesforellacf.org) has been following this case from the very beginning of Mr. Butler’s nightmare.
I read your on-line account of the incident (Barbarian Hilllbilly Assassin) and thought it was very accurate.
It will be a very sad day for America if Mr. Comins is not served his Justice and if you are not allowed the freedom of your thoughts/speech.
I hope that everyone that reads your blogs will read this and try their very best to attend the next hearing in this case. You can check back with our http://www.voicesforellacf.org website which will let you know once the next date is set – it should be the first week of November.
There have been 3 hearings so far. These hearings are being held on the defense’s motion to dismiss all charges. The attorneys for Mr. Comins are hoping to convince the Judge that the case should not be heard by a Jury. They want the whole case to be tossed out. Mr. Comins has paid a lot of money for expert witnesses and lawyers to make sure this all goes away.
Some of our members that have attended the hearings have reported that Mr. Comins’ supporters have been out numbering the supporters for Mr. Butler, Hoochie & Raley. We must show Chris Butler that we support him by making a great showing at the next hearing.
Please make every effort to come out. We will have a peaceful rally before the hearing – outside the courthouse. Keep checking out the website: http://www.voicesforellacf.org for the court date and rally times.
Keep up the fight – be the voices for Hoochie & Raley!
Thanks.
October 12, 2009 at 1:23 pm |
The next hearings are set for November 4th and 5th, both at 1:30 p.m. at the Orange County Courthouse, Room 7D, Judge LeBlanc. We will be holding a peaceful rally on both days starting at 12:30 in front of the courthouse. Please come show your support for Hoochie & Raley.
Stay updated by visiting our website: http://voicesforellacf.org/
The defense has filed several motions to dismiss all charges – they are trying to get the Judge to toss the case before it goes to the Jury. Please come help us show the Judge that this case is very important and that crimes against animals must be heard.
http://voicesforellacf.org/