03/30/09 Crook County
An investigation continues after twelve horses were seized from a Powell Butte home over the weekend.
The caretaker of these horses is Robert Albring Sr. However it was his son Robert Abring Jr. who was cited. Robert Sr. says he's the one in charge-- not his son, and the horses are well taken care of. But the Crook County Sheriff's Office is looking into something more.
The Crook County Sheriff's Office is in the beginning stages of an investigation of what they say is suspicious investment activity stemming from the seizure of horses off a Powell Butte property. "We believe at this time it is like an investment group from California and the stock comes from like a racing stock Thoroughbreds, however the conditon of the animal is far from what would be considered a racing animal," said Commander Russ Wright with the Crook County Sheriff's Office.
Twelve horses were taken off the property Saturday, the sheriff's office says they were in bad condition, malnurished, two needing immediate vet care. They're being housed at the Crook County Fairgrounds. Robert Albring Jr. was cited for animal neglect. KOHD news spoke to his father, Robert Albring Sr., who says he's the caretaker and the animals were not treated poorly. "I had vets out here in December, a vet out of Salem came out with the Sheriff's Department, checked all these horses, even the mare they're saying has all these problems, the vet had looked at her," said Albring Sr.
Albring Sr. has been caring for the horses on this property for the last two and a half years. When asked if he was the owner of the horses, "No I'm not, there are other investors who own these horses and i own a few of them myself," answered Albring Sr.
The property belongs to Arlington Farms, part of the Arlington Group based in California. When sheriff deputies visited the property in December, they were suspicous of some activity and contacted the Oregon Department of Justice. The Crook County Sheriff's Office is attempting to contact everyone from the Arlington Group. They also have records seized from the home during the search warrant, they plan to talk with those people as well. the Arlington Group's lawyer Tim Gassner says he's confident through the investigation his clients will be vindicated. As for the horses, a judge will decide whether the horses will be put up for adoption.
The Crook County Sheriff's Office is footing the bill for the care of the horses. They welcome any donations at their office.
Comments
Caretaker Albring Doesn't Speak the Truth
After watching the video of Bob Albring Sr. talk about who owns the neglected horses on Powell Butte I can state with some certainty the the only person who owns any of the horses is Albring himself. The owner of the ranch is a Dr. Ritchie N. Stevens of Salt lake City UT and a fictional group known as the Arlington Farms. All he cares about is using these horses as a tax write off yet he owns NONE of them. He most certainly doesn't care about the poor animals themselves.
In fact, these horses were all under the control of Robert Gruntz of Hemet, CA who in a recent court decision lost his families "Kirby" ranch in Hemet, and when the judge asked who claimed the horses, Gruntz remained silent! The judge then said that whom ever wanted to claim these animals, over 135 head at last count, had a week to do so. Gruntz and Albring went in and quietly removed the animals which he then moved to Oregon. As stated in at least one Federal Court Case, Gruntz is running a fraudulent tax scam using these horses as his fictional tax write offs for unwitting investors. He's devious enough to not put anything in HIS name. Gruntz and Dr. Stevens need to reimburse Crook County for the care of these poor neglected animals.
Google "Robert Gruntz" and the you will know the truth.
Blessing of Peace.
Bad Santa Bob Albring
Well, I'm surprised to see old "Bad Santa" Bob Albring, as he's known in California, back in Oregon. I guess blood is thicker that water since for months now Albring Sr. has been hiding out in his daughter's trailer park in San Jacinto, CA. He must have come out of hiding to stick up for his son, but why is he in hiding? Rumor has it that Old Santa Bob sold some bad hay to a local rancher last year and the poor mans horse died. Needless to say the rancher was quite upset with Albring Sr. and was supposedly looking for him with a shotgun and a shovel.
Blessings of Peace
The Good Rabbi
Fraud and Lies
The video clip of "Bad Santa" Albring contains several lies- to the extent that Albring's lips were moving. Who knows who really owns the horses? When Fraudmeister Robert Gruntz, the phony head of the phony and fictitious "Arlington Group" needs the horses to belong to him, he claims ownership. When it is not in his best interest to own them, he denies he owns them. Gruntz, being an underground Syndicate type, learned all he needed to know from his childhood in New York City watching his Detective Dad deal with the Mob. Does the current head of the Mob (Mafia, Cosa Nostra) have to comply with the laws you and I do? NO! He thinks he is above the law, and he even convinces other attorneys (he is a disbarred attorney, supposedly) of the same. Gruntz has "clients" buy properties as proxies for him (since he has no credit or desire to be on the hook) and then Gruntz takes control of the properties as if he owns them. Then, he puts misfits and thugs like Albring and his family in the houses that do not belong to them and collects rent from them while the real owners get nothing. When the real Deeded owners, who are paying the mortgage and are responsible for it, complain and cry foul, Gruntz cloaks himself with the "Group" - He claims he does it all for the Group, not for himself. Nevermind that 90% of "the Group" has left after being betrayed by Gruntz. I am the deeded owner of a property in Powell Butte. Gruntz doesn't own it, Arlington Group doesn't own it, and Arlington Farms doesn't own it. Just like the Kirby Property in Hemet, California, where Gruntz lives and where the horses came from, Gruntz will continue to fraudulently claim ownership and control until he is stopped. People of Oregon, if this man, Gruntz, is not stopped, he will be your worst nightmare in your midst- and the cruel way the horses have been treated will be the least of your concerns. You ain't seen nothing yet. Google Robert Gruntz if you have any doubt.
Animal Cruelty Stinks
It seems to me that anyone who indiscriminately just keeps breeding these horses when they can't afford to feed them regularly or CARE for them
on any regular basis, should be prosecuted! What kind of an "investment" group is this? Sounds fishy to me. I hope the Sheriff and Dept of Justice
continue to get the facts and get rid of these vultures! Send them back to California ! We don't want you here in Oregon.
Other people shouldn't have to care for these poor animals, although we will do the charitable thing and help in the care.
I've been reading the comments, and it sounds like they have more than one horse ranch and hundreds of horses. Someone
needs to check on the condition of the other horses and make sure that they are not starving also. Albring, his son, and
whoever else owns the ranch should be made to go hungry for a couple of weeks. Looks like he needs to lose weight anyway.
Say, has anyone checked on who these guys are? Do they have criminal records, have they done this before? They need
to be accountable for their cruel actions.
Crying in Redmond
What kind of an "investment" group is this?
This investment group is called the Arlington Farms, whose unregistered leader is Robert Gruntz of Hemet, CA. And yes, Gruntz has a criminal record back in California for failure to pay child support where he spent a year in jail. Hell, he won't pay $300 a month to support his own children, what makes anyone think he'll take care of some horses that are just a tax write off for investors in his tax fraud scam.
The group however is a non entity in Oregon but a little research indicates that the principles of the Arlington Farms consists of Dr. Ritchie N. Stevens, his Wife Julie K. Stevens of Park City, UT and a Mary L. Pesce of Sammamish, WA. They are registered under a fictional business name in Riverside County, California. Other principles supporters of the Arlington Farms are Dan and Trisha Butts of Henderson, NV and Steven J. Newman, PhD of Pembroke Pines, FL.
These people are not difficult to find and the authorities should be contacting them all to get them to pay for this abuse. Heck, a quick search on "whitepages.com" and I found the addresses and phone numbers for the whole lot, except for Gruntz who lives under the radar, has nothing in his name, and pays no taxes.
Good people of Oregon, please be aware that Gruntz has worn out his welcome in California and appears to be moving his whole operation to central Oregon in the hopes of continuing his scam.
Blessings of Peace
The Good Rabbi