Queensbury youth to pay $400 for stealing goat

A Queensbury youth on a charge of theft claimed that drunkeness made him take the long rope attached to a goat and walk away with it.

This “explanation” came after Semel Malcolm pleaded guilty to stealing a black, white and brown ram goat, worth $400, the property of Leviticus Primus of Penniston, a former police officer.

However according to the facts, Malcolm didn’t just steal the goat, but he also sold it. The court had heard that on Friday, September 6, Primus had tied his goat in a nearby pasture at around 6:45am. He left home and went to Kingstown. When he returned home at 8:30 p.m. and made checks, he discovered his goat missing.

The matter was later reported to the police, and they carried out investigations. They received information which led them to a property in Dubois. Primus pointed out a goat on this property and identified it as his own. The police were taking this goat in their possession when someone else called out and said “Leave ‘Squala’ goat.”

The goat was not taken as an exhibit, but the police found the owner of the alias later that day and cautioned him. That man told them that he had bought the goat from Malcolm.

Malcolm later went to the Vermont Police Station on his own free will and when he was interviewed he admitted to the offence.

On Monday, the defendant told Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne that he was willing to pay for the animal, saying that he has a permanent job at the Roman Catholic Church.

He said he had sold the goat for $150.

He said he was drunk when he took the goat.

Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delplesche asked Malcolm how a drunk man could carry away a goat. “What is the matter with you?” Delplesche said. Drunk men go home, “Drunk man does go tief goat?” he commented in disbelief.

The magistrate also pointed out that, if the story was to be believed, when Malcolm sold the goat the following morning then he should not have been drunk still.

“Your honour he was never drunk,” the prosecutor stated. Turning to Malcolm he commented, “You should get a sharp, short shock for that.”

At the mention of this, the defendant reiterated that he was willing to pay and that he had a little sister to take care of. His mother was dead and his father had had a stroke, he informed.
However, he did receive a short, sharp shock, if only for a night, as his sentencing was adjourned until the next day.

On Tuesday he was fined $400 in default of which he would spend two months in prison. A restoration order was also made for the goat.