Aiken County animal control officials raided Ms. Humes' house on the 1000 block of Union Hill Road in Salley on March 9.
They took 183 dogs. The day before, the Department of Social Services removed Ms. Humes' 17-year-old, mentally disabled son.
If Ms. Humes had pleaded guilty or been convicted Friday of misdemeanor ill treatment of animals, she could have been sentenced to 60 days in jail and a fine up to $500.
If she is charged and convicted of felony animal cruelty, she could face up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
The felony charge requires "repeated" acts. Aiken County officials said Ms. Humes had been charged with keeping unsanitary conditions before.
If convicted of the misdemeanor charge of keeping unsanitary conditions, Ms. Humes could face 30 days in jail and a fine up to $1,025.
Ms. Morgan said her office wants to investigate the charges related to the dogs, look at past incidents and gather information about the treatment of Ms. Humes' son.
During the raid, officials identified a bed soiled with what they said was dog feces. They said that was where the boy had slept.
Ms. Morgan said allegations of stolen dogs also could be part of the upgraded charges Case UpdatesA Salley woman and her live-in boyfriend pleaded guilty on March 25, 2003 to felony animal cruelty charges and were given prison sentences by Circuit Judge James C. Williams.
Kathleen M. Humes was given a five-year sentence and five years' probation for keeping 180 dogs in squalid conditions that led to euthanization for 47 of the animals and was also ordered to pay about $4,800 in restitution to Aiken County animal control officials.
She was given a seven-year sentence on charges of unlawful conduct toward a child for letting her mentally disabled son live with her in an unkempt mobile home.
Ms. Humes will wind up spending two years in prison, prosecutors said.
Her boyfriend, John "Chip" Livingston, was sentenced to two years in prison on the animal cruelty charges and ordered to pay an identical fine. He will serve 18 months in prison and faces five years' probation after that.
Animal control officials said that the incident was the worst case of animal cruelty they had handled and that they spent more than $52,000 for food, veterinary care and euthanization. | Source: Augusta Chronicle - March 26, 2003
Update posted on Aug 7, 2005 - 8:35AM |
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