Dog custody battle continues in Corvallis court
CORVALLIS, Ore. -- The dispute over a dog's rightful owner continued in Corvallis Thursday as the Oregon State University student claiming ownership had her first appearance in court.
Jordan Biggs is accused of stealing a dog from Portland-resident Sam Hanson-Fleming.
Biggs said she found the husky mix in southeast Portland over a year ago, around the time that Hanson-Fleming said that the dog ran away after jumping over his fence.
Judges read the indictment against Biggs in Benton County Court Thursday. She was arrested on theft charges related to the dog two weeks ago.
A judge granted Biggs' attorney Geordie Duckler's motion to have the dog preserved and protected as evidence in this case.
"I'm befuddled a little bit about why the charges were brought based on the facts that we have here." said Duckler.
The day before her arrest Biggs' attorney presented reports that Hanson-Fleming abused the dog to the Multnomah County District Attorney's office. The dog will remain with the Oregon Humane Society while police conduct an investigation into those allegations.
The Humane Society euthanized the dog, that is what they do, so now they are fighting over who gets to bury the dog.
This case is not about whether there was abuse or not. Flemming posted on craigslist and put out flyers for this dog. This case is about whether it is his dog or her dog. As Biggs lived only blocks from Flemming at the time, there is no way she did not see the flyers. So in my opinion Biggs is a thief and never had a right to the dog. As for whether Flemming abused the dog, well if that is the case then let the courts settle that on another day!
@UsaidWHAT So, as I understand it, Hanson-Fleming was in jail, his dogs were uncared for while he was in jail, the one escaped to find something to eat, when he got out of jail he posted fliers looking for his dog, are those the facts?
 @UsaidWHAT Ms. Biggs had only one thing to do that would have cleared this entire mess up FROM THE BEGINNING! She should have filed a "found dog" report with Multnomah Co. Animal Services. She says she called them...but that is not the same thing as filing an actual report. Had she done so, Mr. Hansen-Fleming would have gotten his dog back almost immediately! Instead, she says she knocked on doors, called animal shelters, then took the dog an hour south where Mr. Hansen-Fleming had no hope of finding him. I too think she is a thief because she agreed to return the dog, then changed her mind, had the dog chipped and licensed, and completely ignored the ruling of the Director of Multnomah Co. Animal Services that determined the dog, in fact, belongs to Mr. Hansen-Fleming. She says she loves this dog...well, her actions are clearly saying she loves herself more because she refused to do the correct thing by returning the dog to his lawful and proper owner. Now she suffers. The dog suffers. Mr. Hansen-Fleming and his children are STILL suffering. ALL NEEDLESSLY. What a heartbreaking situation, all because one girl would not follow the rules.
@IamIren @UsaidWHAT Children, this animal abusing convict has children, has anyone checked on them, if the convict will abuse animals, he will abuse children, have they ran away also?
I would like the best interest of the dog to be the main issue, rather than treating the dog as mere property that is replaceable and without personality.
And this, ladies and gents, is why you should take your beloved animals in for microchipping! A quick wave of a wand near the dog's shoulders and BEEEEEEEEP....read the code and give the guy his dog back.
 @bigjuancrd Microchipping is great, but in this case animal control had already determined ownership months ago  without it.
I have to agree... if Mr. Hanson-Fleming can prove that the dog is in fact the one who ran away, then it should go back to him. However, if Mr. Hanson-Fleming did abuse the dog, I would have to say let Ms. Biggs keep it... but again, there would need to be proof that the abuse did happen.
 @XoztedMama It has been determined by the Director of Multnomah Co. Animal Services that the dog does, in fact, belong to Mr. Hansen-Fleming. Allegations of abuse to did NOT surface until AFTER a bribe attempt had been made to Mr. Hansen-Fleming by former PDX Police Officer John R Bocciolatt, acting as a private representative of the Biggs family. When Mr. Hansen-Fleming refused the bribe, former PDX Police Officer John R Bocciolatt then stated "You'll never see your dog again." In fact, the allegations of abuse appeared THE VERY NEXT DAY. Interesting timing, no?
@IamIren @XoztedMama The acusation of abuse is believable, Sam is a convict right?
Meanwhile the poor dog is in a cage at the pound! Biggs---- give the man back HIS dog! You are wrong to think its yours! Sam Hanson-Fleming is  the rightful owner of this dog. I wish the judge would put an end to this foolishness! Â
@LifeisGOOD007 Sorry, you need to read about the allegations of abuse and neglect by Hanson-Flemming. They are far reaching and the prosecutor stated that they are at least superficially correct and are under investigation. It isn't made up. I've found lots of animals and it isn't as clear cut as one would think. Hanson-Flemming has posted very threatening and abusive posts on various sites that have since been deleted, but I believe he is a bad hombre who does not know or care how to properly treat, care for, or discipline a dog.
Seems odd for someone who hates his dog so much to go to such lengths to find it. If he really wanted to commit more animal abuse, he could have just gotten another dog off of craigslist. If he was abusing the dog, you'd think he wouldn't want to claim ownership since it would be evidence of his animal abuse if it was fearful or had injuries.
@GiantSquid I doubt that he hates dogs, it appears he lacks the capacity to understand what appropriate care is, drug abuse will do that to you.
 @Elise Willingham Oh, and I'd like to know exactly how you know beyond doubt that any "threatening and abusive posts on various sites that have since been deleted" where actually made by Hansen-Fleming. Do you work in IT? Are you able to trace ip addresses from anonymous message boards?  Your comments are libelous at worst and just plain stupid at best. What you believe about Hansen-Fleming is irrelevant to this situation as you do not know anything about Hansen-Fleming beyond what you've been told and what you've read in articles just like this one.
@OMG! @IamIren He lives with his mother? Does she have an arrest record as well?
@IamIren @Elise Willingham Are those white supremacist tattoos on his body?
 @IamIren His felony and misdemeanor convictions are a matter of public record.  You are no doubt correct that these are irrelevant for the legal judgement in the current situation, but his criminal background still matters to some people.
 @Elise Willingham - I'll repeat what I stated above: Allegations of abuse to did NOT surface until AFTER a bribe attempt had been made to Mr. Hansen-Fleming by former PDX Police Officer John R Bocciolatt, acting as a private representative of the Biggs family. When Mr. Hansen-Fleming refused the bribe, former PDX Police Officer John R Bocciolatt then stated "You'll never see your dog again." In fact, the allegations of abuse appeared THE VERY NEXT DAY. Interesting timing, no?
@IamIren @Elise Willingham I heard his own friends turned him in, stated they witnessed beatings and inhumane living conditions. Was he too drugged up to give appropriate care?