Horses, pigs, and more found to be in unsanitary conditions at Copley site.

By Bob Downing
Beacon Journal staff writer

Published on Saturday, Apr 04, 2009

A Summit County judge has ordered that additional domestic animals be taken from Lorenza Pearson in Copley Township.

Common Pleas Judge Judy Hunter issued a permanent injunction against Pearson and his ex-wife, Barbara Pearson-Brown, on Friday for keeping animals in unsanitary conditions. They are permanently barred from keeping exotic animals.

The two were also found in contempt of court and each was fined $150.

Hunter's 10-page order allows the Summit County Health Department and Copley Township to remove six horses, three goats, four pigs, three pot-bellied pigs, 20 ducks, one calf, five guinea fowl, seven chickens and pigeons from the Columbus Avenue property.

No action has been taken to remove the animals, said Bob Hasenyager of the Summit County Health Department.

Hunter cited the lack of fresh water for the animals; lack of a wastewater system; garbage, litter and manure strewn throughout the property; manure piles near food; rodent problems; and the open-burning violations noted in March 12 testimony.

''The court finds by clear and convincing evidence that defendants have continued to maintain their property and to harbor domestic animals on this property in such a manner as to create an absolute nuisance,'' Hunter wrote.

The judge cited the pair for contempt because they had violated her May 9 order by bringing additional domestic animals onto the property.

The judge said she would waive the fines if Pearson and Pearson-Brown cooperate with authorities.

''We're very pleased with the court's ruling . . . and hope that Judge Hunter has written the final chapter in what's been a long legal fight,'' said attorney Irving Sugerman, who represents Copley Township.

Efforts to contact Pearson, Pearson-Brown and attorney William Whitaker were unsuccessful.

On May 9, Hunter had ordered the removal of Pearson's exotic animals from L&L Exotic Animal Farm.

She ruled that the animals posed a threat to public health and safety because of the poor conditions of their cages. She ordered the operation shut down and the animals seized. They included eight black bears that were shipped to an animal sanctuary in Colorado.

Pearson had earlier removed three tigers, a wolf hybrid, a lion and a number of pit bulls from his farm.

A lawsuit, filed by Copley and the health department, said Pearson failed to comply with 2003 court orders to improve the site. In 2007, a federal administrative law judge found Pearson guilty of violating the federal Animal Welfare Act. He was found guilty of 26 violations and his federal license to exhibit exotic animals was revoked. The judge called the conditions of the animals deplorable.

Between 1999 and 2005, Pearson had as many as 82 animals at the same time, mostly exotic cats and bears.

In 2002, the Agriculture Department cited Pearson for 900 violations of its animal-care rules.

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Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning@thebeaconjournal.com.