Indicted Green Acre owner pens message to 'mean people'
Last month MaLeisa Hughes wrote a message online to all of the “mean people.”
Hughes and her husband, Jesse Todd Hughes, have been indicted by a grand jury, twice, on animal cruelty charges. It stems from the death of more than 20 dogs last summer at Green Acre Dog Boarding facility in Gilbert, which the Hugheses owned. MaLeisa and Jesse Todd were in Florida when the deaths occurred. The dogs were in the care of their daughter and son-in-law, Logan and Austin Flake (son of U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake.) The dogs were locked in a 9- by 12-foot room when the air-conditioning apparently failed.
Charges were brought against all four individuals initially, but have since been dropped against the Flakes who, in turn, have filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and other county officials, alleging malicious prosecution.
The loss of the family pets was big news for a long time.
The families most impacted by the loss are weary and frustrated by how long the legal process has taken.
“It has dragged out so long,” said attorney John Shill, who is representing the animal owners. “It’s been very upsetting for my clients. They want resolution. They want closure and they want people held accountable.”
The owners and supporters of the so-called “Gilbert 23” have been very active in trying to keep the public’s attention focused on the case.
The Hugheses and the Flakes said early on that they’d received threats.
The initial charges were dropped against all four but the Hugheses were indicted again by a grand jury in May. Their lawyer wants another grand jury to reconsider.
Recently, I heard from several supporters of the pet owners who lost dogs at Green Acre. They sent links to an online blog MaLeisa Hughes wrote in July on a blogging website.
The pet owners’ attorney Shill told me he’d seen the blog before it was taken down. I also e-mailed a copy to the Hugheses' attorney. The link to the essay didn’t disappear, however. In it, MaLeisa speaks directly to and about the “mean people.”
One of the individuals who contacted me about the blog said, “I guess by ‘mean people’ she means me. But she sounds like the mean one to me.”
MaLeisa wrote in part: “It's so SO super sad that people actually take time away from themselves, their family, their pets, their friends, their hobbies, their life really. Just to focus on us and being mean to us. I know we are awesome and cool and all. But I don't think we really warrant all of this attention. I mean. Isn't that so sad? For them?”
She adds, “And if these people had any idea how much pain they are causing us (zero) in relation to how much pain they are causing themselves (exponential), maybe they would take some inventory and improve their behavior towards others. And Arizona would get a little kinder.”
The “Gilbert 23” folks believe all of this is aimed at them, of course, particularly the part in which MaLeisa speaks directly to the “mean people.”
She writes: ”Dear Mean People:
“I know, I know. You guys keep ledgers and lists and files and all kinds of info on us. Wowzers. Also, you are constantly taking turns reporting us to (fill in agency here) trying to get us into SOME kind of trouble. Double wowzers. I'm really sorry you are so miserable. Because honestly, I don't want you to be so miserable.”
She then discusses some of the agencies she said have been contacted, then adds, “So rest assured actions have been taken by your complaints. Outcomes have been had. Probably not the ones you intended ... but we have enjoyed them.”
She ends it:
“My family wishes you everything good in the World. We really, really do. And we hope you get help. And we pray for you. Sincerely, M”