Bentleyville man sues state Game Commission over 2017 raid
A Bentleyville man who was charged and later found not guilty of mistreating animals has sued the state Game Commission and its two officers, claiming his reputation was damaged by false allegations.
Fredrick Frameli, 69, alleged Richard Joyce, a state game warden, brought television cameras and newspaper reporters to his Spring Street home in August 2017 in an effort to publicly label him as an 鈥渁nimal abuser and other vile appellations.鈥� Joyce filed several citations, alleging Frameli kept 11 dogs, including three Joyce said were 鈥渨olf-dog hybrids鈥� in poor conditions.
At the time, Joyce described the dogs as being 鈥渆maciated.鈥�
While a magistrate in Washington County found Frameli guilty and fined him $100 for each count of not providing the animals with adequate food and water, a common pleas judge reversed the decision last year.
Frameli鈥檚 attorney, William J. McCormick, said the allegations damaged his client鈥檚 鈥渟potless reputation,鈥� cost him in excess of $30,000 in legal fees to fight the case and was a detriment to his health.
During the raid, McCormick alleged Joyce refused to let Frameli contact his attorney, and told him if he surrendered his animals then, they would be returned later.
The dogs, however, are still 鈥渓anguishing in a compound for wild animals,鈥� McCormick contended.
In addition to the Game Commission, the suit named Joyce and his supervisor, Brian Singer, as defendants. The suit contended Singer was liable for damages because he did not properly supervise or train Joyce.
McCormick contended Joyce committed various constitutional violations of Frameli鈥檚 rights.
The Game Commission 鈥渉as a practice of acquiescing in its officers鈥� wrongful actions and abuses of civil rights,鈥� McCormick wrote.
The filing did not ask for a specific award.