by Paul Post
 
A legal conference between Greene County, New York, prosecutors and horseman Ernie Paragallo has been postponed again until July 27.

Paragallo, free on bail, faces 22 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty following the highly publicized April 8 raid of his Center Brook Farm in upstate New York. Authorities seized 177 starving, neglected Thoroughbreds. Three horses had to be euthanized.

Greene County District Attorney Terry Wilhelm is seeking a plea bargain rather than taking the case directly to trial, but terms have not been disclosed.

"We are in the middle of negotiating," Assistant District Attorney Sara Leggio said. "We’re waiting to hear back from him [Paragallo] and his attorney about what they’re willing to do and not do."

Paragallo made a personal appearance in Coxsackie Town Court on Monday. Proceedings were postponed by mutual consent between prosecutors and Paragallo’s attorney, Michael Howard of Hudson, New York.

Paragallo already has surrendered 76 horses that have been placed in new homes from Kentucky to Canada. Scores of other horses are still at the farm as they are nursed back to health.

"I’d like to see those animals moved off the farm to reputable places," said Ron Perez, president of Columbia-Greene Humane Society, which is monitoring the farm.

Caring for the horses already has cost at least $100,000, and the Humane Society alone has spent about $50,000, he said. Some money might be returned, however, if Paragallo is required to make restitution.

While details have not been released, Perez said he is pleased with the terms of the proposed plea bargain.

"The district attorney’s doing a good job," he said. "It’s a fair plea bargain."

The New York State Racing and Wagering Board and New York Racing Association already have stripped Paragallo of racing privileges in the state.

Paul Post is a New York-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent