Accused Donkey Killer Enters Not Guilty Plea

May 15, 2009

The 17-year old accused of shooting a donkey earlier this month has entered a not guilty plea in Escambia County Circuit Court.

Kyle Mason Driver of River Annex Road, Cantonment, entered the plea through his attorney Gene Mitchell. Driver’s next court appearance was an arraignment hearing on May 22.

Driver, 17, was originally charged as a juvenile, but he now faces charges as an adult in Escambia County Circuit Court on three charges related to the May 2 shooting death of the donkey on River Annex Road near Jacks Branch Road. The shooting happened within minutes of the birth of J.B., a white donkey that became a local media celebrity of sorts.

Driver is now facing adult charges of felony animal cruelty, using a weapon during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a minor.

Driver turned himself in to the Escambia County Jail May 6 about two hours after NorthEscambia.com published his photo and a plea for the public’s help in locating him from the Sheriff’s Department. He was released from jail on $6,000 bond.

Deputies say Driver confessed to the crime, and a witness provided deputies with the .22 caliber weapon used in the shooting.

JB the donkey continues to do well in the care of a Panhandle Equine Rescue volunteer.

Comments

9 Responses to “Accused Donkey Killer Enters Not Guilty Plea”

  1. Sue Pike on May 19th, 2009 2:43 am

    This young man and his family should be responsible for all costs involved in saving J. B. and he should be asked how it would feel if someone shot his mom right after he was born so that he had almost no chance of survival. Until this young man is made to realize the extent of this crime and that it is not far off from taking the life of a human; he is a threat to human society. There is definitely a corrolation between no respect for the life of an animal and no respect for human life. Jeffrey Dammer was a good example of feeling nothing re: killing animals first then humans. The only time we are permitted to kill an animal is when we need it for food!

  2. Elmo Blatch on May 18th, 2009 4:30 am

    I say it’s time for this “boy” to Man-Up to what he did and stop wasting the court’s time.

  3. for what it's worth on May 17th, 2009 11:58 am

    Usually it seems that people enter a not guilty plea in order to allow their attorney’s time to investigate options and try to get a deal or decide to go to trial – pleading nor guilty at the initial appearance (since it looks like he has a private attorney – otherwise the Public Defender’s office would be appointed at this hearing) is really a way of buying time for his attorney and the state to finish getting their cases together and allow the Court to schedule more complicated/time consuming hearings within the Court’s schedule………………….hopefully the state attorney won’t wimp out and offer him a easy deal

  4. Wild Bill on May 17th, 2009 10:37 am

    The kid is a wanton murderer, lock him up before he moves on to human lives.

    E.W.,
    How do you know the donkey did not have a soul. Is it not one of god’s creatures? Just because you choose to act like and speak like a jackass doesn’t make you an expert on donkey spirits. This kid will be the next John Wayne Gace once he gets the courage to move on to human prey and he will get the courage if he is not stopped now.

  5. People eating tasty animals on May 16th, 2009 5:56 am

    Your family pet is just an animal without a soul too…..right? How would you feel if he shot it just for kicks?

  6. E.W. on May 15th, 2009 4:07 pm

    This is just an animal without a soul.Taking it a little far don’t you think.

  7. My 2 cents on May 15th, 2009 1:25 pm

    The leo says that he confessed. The “King” boys also confessed, then plead “not guilty” then plead “guilty” to the lesser charge dropped from “HOMICIDE WILFUL KILL-MURDER PREMEDITATED” down to “MURDER NOT PREMEDITATED DURING OTHER FELONY”, which meant the charges went from a “capital felony” down to a “second degree felony” one got 7yrs and the other got 8yrs. This is not saying that I agree or diagree with any part of this case, I am just looking at what the original charge was, then in the end what was plead to.

    There is a BIG difference in these seperate cases. Excluding the fact that a lot of the public is saying that “if he killed a DONKEY, then he will kill your family”.

    This “donkey killer” as we so lovingly refer to him, is a 17yr old boy that allegedly did something.

    I say, plea not guilty, hope for a lesser charge, and a plea bargain, then do what is in your best interest.
    You have already been “found guilty” by the public.
    Hope for a plea bargain to a lesser charge.

  8. concerned on May 15th, 2009 12:28 pm

    He already confessed to this horrible crime, now pleads NOT guilty? What kind of deal did they give him, I wonder.!!!! This is the kind of stuff that just boils me. Its not like he’s never been in trouble before because I know he has. I know of this family.
    That’s whats wrong with some of the kids today, they get in trouble, and nothing major happens to them. This is a great example set for these kids.
    I am mad as heck.

  9. Michelle Cayson on May 15th, 2009 7:34 am

    Cofession is good for the soul. Take your lumps and move on.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News