| Lucky Letter-Writing Campaign |
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Updated: 11/18/04 - The DA's office has given this case to a new attorney; Jill Nerone. Please address any future letters to her attention. Please contact County of Alameda Deputy District Attorney Jill L. Nerone and *politely* urge her to pursue the maximum allowable penalty (one year in jail plus fines) for this horrific act of cruelty. We have provided sample letters, at the bottom of the page, which you are welcome to use if you need ideas for a letter of your own. We have also posted letters written by others on behalf of Lucky's case. Jill L. Nerone Reference:
Letters to the DA in support of Lucky:
Tom Orloff, Esq. Re: People v. Nicholas Sigmon, No. 376959a Dear Mr. Orloff: I write to urge and request vigorous prosecution of the above-referenced cases involving animal cruelty. The facts involved--duct taping explosives to a defenseless rabbit and tossing it in to Lake Don Castro--compel the harshest sentencing available. HRS Shelter Director Erin Williams and responding EBRP police are to be commended for their efforts. Please place a copy of this letter in each offender's probation report. Thank you for your consideration of my request. With kind regards, Gilbert L. Purcell
October 30, 2004 Dear Mr. Scheingart, A few months ago, I read the story about Nicholas Sigmon, Paul Collins, and others who strapped explosives to a rabbit and threw him in a lake for their own “enjoyment.” I must urge you to prosecute both cases to the fullest extent of the law. Anything else will truly be unacceptable. We are not living in a third world country where this behavior can be tolerated. People who have no regard for animals, the law, and who inflict pain and torture on innocent creatures have been proven time and again to be just as cruel to human beings when given the chance. The perpetrators who performed these unthinkable acts were adults who should have known better, but quite honestly, they enjoy inflicting pain towards innocent animals and people. If you care about the citizens of your community, please don’t ignore or disregard these atrocities. These ignorant people shouldn’t be allowed to get away with such cruelty. Please send a message that this type of torture, abuse, and neglect is against the law and will NOT be tolerated. Thank you for your time. Regards, July 31, 2004 Tom Rogers
RE: Nick Sigmon & Paul Collins who taped a rabbit to a firecracker and tossed her into Lake Don Castro Dear Mr. Rogers: I was appalled to learn about the case of Lucky, the pet rabbit, being bound to a firecracker and then tossed into a lake by two young men, one of them her supposed caretaker and past rescuer. How this case is handled legally is of great concern to me. As a practicing psychotherapist for the last twenty-five years, I know that this kind of behavior is diagnostic and does not bode well for society. Abuse of animals is a serious predictor of future violent, anti-social behavior. Most serial killers preface their sadistic killing careers by practicing cruelty to animals. This is not to say that either Sigmon or Collins are budding serial killers but their disgusting failure of empathy suggests some serious intra-psychic deficits that are in need of addressing. Few can imagine a creature more vulnerable and helpless than a rabbit. Because of these attributes, most people react protectively toward them. However, in Sigmon’s and Collins’ cases, this vulnerability produced a sadistic, murderous response that was bragged about publicly on the Internet. One could wonder how they will respond to the vulnerabilities of their future wives and children. To make matters worse, Sigmon’s father minimized his son’s abominable behavior. It’s not too hard to guess how Sigmon turned out the way he did. I wouldn’t be surprised if the argument comes up that they were “impaired” at the time of the incident and therefore somehow not responsible. If that happens, mandatory substance abuse/chemical dependency evaluations and treatment are indicated. Treatment of the chemical problem, however, does not treat the underlying psychological deficits that allow someone to behave this way. Treatment of those issues should be mandatory after the chemical dependency problem, if present, is cleared up. The issue that violence to animals and pets is family violence is now a focus of the Humane Society of the United States in its First Strike Program. In the course of your preparation for prosecuting this case, I would encourage you to learn more about this program at www.hsus.org/firststrike and the violence to animals connection to violence to humans. Another good resource is Beyond Violence at Psychologists for Ethical Treatment of Animals at www.psyeta.org/beyond_violence.html. The FBI now reports the incidence of violence to animals because it is a good predictor of child and spouse abuse. It is imperative for the safety of society and the amelioration of Sigmon’s and Collins’ psychological developmental deficits that they are made to understand the seriousness of this crime by punishing them to the fullest extent of the law. The worse possible outcome would be that the judicial system buys into the same type of dismissive, minimizing, absence of ethical responsibility excuses that Simon’s father demonstrated. People raised by these types of parents are experts at manipulating authority figures to excuse their behavior. Sigmon’s father made one of these typical gambits by trying to put a good face on his son’s behavior by stating that he had saved four lives from drowning. Interesting that he chose drowning as an option for his rabbit. At any rate, I am not impressed. I know how expert these types of people are at putting on a good public face. I frequently warn my single, dating, patients to be aware that any psychopathic types can be on good behavior for at least ninety days. I am warning you as well to prepare and inoculate yourself from getting sucked in by manipulative comments like “it’s just a rabbit,” and “they’re only kids.” A rabbit is a living creature with a central nervous system much like our own. They are capable of experiencing pain and terror the way that we humans do. Sigmon and Collins are legal adults, charged with enough responsibility to be given jobs as lifeguards, a pathetic irony in light of this case. Let them be responsible for their behavior toward Lucky too. This crime is a serious indication of a failure of empathy, the hallmark of sadistic behavior, and it doesn’t just go away. Please don’t facilitate Sigmon’s and Collin’s notions that they can get out of suffering the consequences of their behavior. It is painfully evident that they’ve gotten away with this attitude for far too long. Society doesn’t deserve any more of these types acting out with impunity. The only psychological hope that Sigmon and Collins have is for someone to finally hold them accountable. I hope that you do your best in this regard. Sincerely, Lana J. Lehr, LICSW, BCD 17 September 2004 3) They showed no subsequent remorse. They photographed their actions and posted them on the internet, and have not publicly apologized. They are rude to reporters, even when given the opportunity to apologize, defend themselves, and explain their actions.
Roy Scheingart, Hayward Deputy District Attorney RE: Nicholas Sigmon, case # 376959A
Dear Mr. Scheingart, I am writing to encourage you to pursue the maximum penalties in the animal cruelty cases against Nicholas Sigmon and Paul Collins. I am horrified by the callous act that these young men committed against Lucky, the Sigmon family pet rabbit. I am especially disturbed by their lack of understanding of the seriousness and possible implications of their crime. They intended to blow up the family pet! As you know, the FBI considers acts of cruelty to animals, especially as an adolescent, an indication that the individual will perpetrate future crimes against people and crimes exceeding in cruelty and aggression. I am relieved to hear that your office is taking this crime seriously. Animal abuse is not just the result of a minor personality flaw but a symptom of a deep mental disturbance. If these young men are merely fined or slapped on the wrist, we teach them that it is acceptable to dispose of, in any distorted manner that they see fit, anything or anyone who they find useless or are no longer able to care for. Could a great-grandmother or a little brother be next? Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely,
Your Name ---------------------------------------------------------- Roy Scheingart Mr. Scheingart: I am writing to request the charges against Nicholas Sigmon (Case #376959A) and Paul Collins (Case # 376959B) be upgraded from misdemeanor to felony animal cruelty to Lucky the rabbit. Although the accused have been indicted with misdemeanor crimes - due to no prior criminal record, would the same minimal charge hold if Lucky were human? The facts of this case are: - that these young men had the intent to kill, a premeditated murder in human terms - the plot which included explosives was unusually heineous - taking photos showed no understanding of their crime - posting the photos on their website showed no remorse for their action Given these facts and the high publicity of this case, Mr. Sigmon and Mr. Collins should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, a charge of felony animal cruelty. Sincerely, Your Name
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