• For several decades the historic free-roaming horses of the Virginia Range southeast of Reno have been managed through the cooperative efforts of the Nevada Department of Agriculture, allied agencies and qualified cooperating non-profit organizations. These combined efforts kept the management costs to the state reasonable and the herd and range remained healthy.

• In 2008 Governor Gibbons appointed Tony Lesperance as Director of Agriculture in what was supposed to be an interim appointment until the Board of Agriculture could find a permanent, qualified Director. Once appointed, Lesperance's assignment became permanent.

• Tony Lesperance broke off relations with the non-profit cooperators and other agencies, and these actions have produced an increase in conflicts between the Virginia Range horses and private property owners and motorists.

• During his tenure, a number of allegations have arisen pertaining to the conduct and activities of Director Lesperance. These allegations, that include a range of inappropriate actions such as falsifying documents, illegally selling state property and an extortion attempt, are enumerated in the document, Talking Points: Tony Lesperance.

• Several citizens have registered complaints and/or requests for investigation with the Office of the Attorney General. Most of those complaints have been marginalized as "clerical errors" or "procedural mistakes," however these illicit activities continue to take place.

• The recent incident regarding (Gibbons' Deputy Chief of Staff) Lynn Hettrick irrigating an unfenced weed patch in close proximity to the Virginia Range Range in an attempt to to prove "beneficial use" to hold onto water rights has attracted numerous horses into Mound House, the eastern edge of Carson City and busy US-50.

• Director Lesperance refused to permit the community to engage in the traditional solutions for controlling the horses' incursions: enticing the horses back into the hills by temporarily placing feed in approved locations. Lesperance's disregard for effective community based solutions has caused horses to continue to be struck on the highway.

• Director Lesperance has indicated that he plans to trap and remove these horses and send them to the Fallon Livestock Exchange.

• Advocates have provided evidence that the Department has violated, and continues to violate various Nevada Revised Statutes by failing to properly publish public notices of horses being picked up, being consigned to sale, and not being individually branded before sale. These laws were enacted to ensure that the disposition of the horses (state property) is conducted in public, without special favors, and that the animals can be tracked.

Wednesday' Activities.

• Given the historic lackluster efforts by the Attorney General's Office to investigate these matters, to hold public officials to the same standards of accountability, and to take any effective corrective action, concerned citizens and horse advocates will take this issue to the streets in a lawful public demonstration.

• Documents will be available to the media supporting the advocates' allegations and advocates will be on hand who have been victims of Department of Agriculture corruption.

• The advocates would prefer not to turn this activity into a showdown, but would rather find some solutions to these matters.

• The protest is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM in front of the Office of the Attorney General, 100 N. Carson St., Carson City, NV.

For more information please contact Carrol Abel of the Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund.

• Email: hiddenvalleyhorse@yahoo.com

• Phone: 775-461-2121.