By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
A jury this week found a Woodleaf man not guilty in an animal cruelty case related to the shooting of cows in 2006.
James Joshua Rogers, then 27, was accused of shooting seven of his neighbor’s Black Angus cows.
“We are disappointed, but we respect the jury’s decision,” Assistant District Attorney Michael Van Buren said Thursday.
The trial began Monday and wrapped up Wednesday.
Rogers, who lived at 165 Burgray Road, at the time of the October shooting, had been charged with seven counts of animal cruelty.
An arrest warrant said Rogers shot the cattle with a .22-caliber rifle.
The cattle belonged to Richard Burgess, of 285 Burgray Road.
At the time, law enforcement officers said Burgess told them two of the cattle had been shot to death and the other five would have to be destroyed because of the severity of their injuries.
The cattle were valued at $7,500.
Rogers’ attorney, James Davis, was in court Thursday and not immediately available for comment.
A telephone number listed for Burgess had been disconnected.
There is no phone listing for Rogers.