I just about fell over when I read the following online on the Morning Call’s website. Take a look at it yourself.
“Former kennel owner Derbe “Skip” Eckhart asked a Lehigh County judge Monday to release him from jail despite the fact he’s only in his fourth month of a six-to-23-month sentence and assaulted a prison guard just days after entering the slammer.””Eckhart’s attorney, Jeffery Conrad of Lancaster, says his client’s sentence was too harsh and a probationary sentence would have been more appropriate for the animal cruelty charges Eckhart was convicted of. Conrad said the sentence was at the high end of state guidelines.””We just felt because it wasn’t a crime of violence, probation was appropriate,” Conrad said.
Now wait, there’s more.
“If that fails, Conrad is asking Judge Robert L. Steinberg to set bail for Eckhart so he can remain free until the state’s Superior Court rules on an appeal of the conviction.” What?? So he can remain free- were his dogs allowed to be free while they were imprisoned?”Conrad said Eckhart, 42, isn’t a flight risk because his family and loved ones remain in the area.”
“Following a brief hearing Monday, Steinberg said he’d rule on the motions at a later date. After he issues an order, Conrad will be permitted to file his appeal to Superior Court.””Senior Deputy District Attorney Heather Gallagher opposed the motions.”
Although the article speaks for itself, I have to put my two cents into this equation.
This man ,and I use that term loosely when it comes to Eckhart, has worked the judicial system for years. He has gotten away with cruelty to animals for decades. His puppymill or is it politically correct to say commercial kennel (frankly, who cares)…….has been open for business for decades…….dogs and puppies living under the most horrific conditions. Dogs taken from shelters , given to him by a PA dog warden (yes, that’s a fact!) and placed in Eckhart’s Almost Heaven (Hell) Kennel for breeding purposes and to sell the sick puppies and profit greatly from them continuously for years and years!
800 animals found at one time in his “kennel”!! Repeat, 800 animals! That’s unthinkable,
Eckhart claimed he loved his dogs too much. The man was/is so arrogant that he didn’t care that his puppies were sick when he sold them to unsuspecting customers.
The man’s arrogance led him to work the judicial system and not appear for hearings. Why? Because he didn’t have an attorney…….I sat in that courtroom waiting for Eckhart to show up and he would be a no- show. The hearings were delayed. His trial was delayed. Why….because he knew how to work the courts. I guess you pick up a few lessons after decades of dealing with the law.
He finally gets his day in court and he receives a sentence of 6-23 months in jail. Not enough time at all. He’s in prison for four days when he assaults an officer. But , that doesn’t count because he was “detoxing” from prescription drugs he was no longer allowed in jail. Yeah, ok, Derbe..whatever you say.
Does he get an extended jail sentence because of his actions- NO! He receives more probation.
And now he and his lawyer have the unmitigated gall to ask for him to be released from jail early!!
Eckhart is a coward. He thinks he’s above the law. And why shouldn’t he? I have a source who told me that he told her that he was not going to jail after his “kennel” was shut down in 2008 because he has people in Harrisburg on his side. And I believe that. If you look at what is happening with the current Dog Law Advisory Board wanting to change our new Dog Law (Act 119) back to where it was, I am not surprised by Eckhart’s words.
So Eckhart wants to be released early because his lawyer contends that his client’s sentence was too harsh. What about the harsh treatment Eckhart inflicted upon those poor dogs not to mention other animals he had on his property for decades. Those dogs were kept in “prison” for their entire lives living in filthy and deplorable conditions. They were never released. They left that hell-hole when they died or were rescued by other organizations.
Eckhart, be a man. Your sentence is so light in comparison to what you had done for decades with innocent animals. Stop playing the victim. Because you aren’t and never were the victim. Grow up. You did the crime. Now do the time. Stop with the crocodile tears. Your sentence is so short. You will be out of there in no time. You disgust me to no end.
Just shut up and serve your time!