A local horse owner convicted two years ago of more than 50 animal cruelty counts has all of her horses back on her Town of Aurora property. But a judge has ruled that a receiver will soon be identified and selected to care for 29 of them, if a buyer does not emerge.
One week ago, Beth Lynne Hoskins had advised reporters that a Rochester buyer was purchasing 29 of her horses, which were to be sold under a settlement related to her case. But instead of moving the horses from a Lockport farm where they were kept since August to the Rochester buyer, the horses were instead returned to Hoskins' Town of Aurora farm, where they rejoined the woman's 35 other horses.
Tuesday morning in State Supreme Court, attorneys for the Erie County SPCA had a prepared order they wanted Justice Joseph Glownia to sign, an order that would put all 64 of Hoskins' horses into receivership. Instead, Glownia ordered 29 of them to be placed in receivership. Hoskins keeps her 35 other horses, and all will remain on her property for the time being.
Judge Glownia spoke in court of a lack of testimony from the reported Rochester buyer and from the mover hired to transport the horses. He wants evidence that the buyer is taking full control of the 29 horses that were reportedly purchased.
Attorney Ralph Lorigo, representing the SPCA, says this supposed deal is just the latest in a string of claimed transactions that were said to fall through.
"The contract hasn't been consumated at this point in time," Lorigo said to reporters outside the courtroom. "Even the down payment on the contract did not come from the buyer."
The down payment, Lorigo suggested before the judge, came instead from Jean Knox, widow of the late Buffalo Sabres owner Seymour Knox and a Hoskins family friend.
"There's been so many things manipulated in this situation," Lorigo added.
Neither Hoskins nor her attorney, George Muscato, commented outside the courtroom. Muscato accused the SPCA in court of interfering with a pending sale, as well as revealing names publicly involved in what he says was supposed to be a confidential contract.
The next meeting before Judge Glownia is scheduled for the morning of January 11.
