Dozens of animals neglected
Peoria, AZ (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Jul 3, 2007
County: Maricopa
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Defendants/Suspects:
» Donald E. Sykes
» Marianne G. Stacy
Two Peoria-area residents accused of 28 counts of animal abuse pleaded guilty to one of those charges during an appearance before a justice of the peace in Surprise.
In a plea bargain with prosecutors, Donald E. Sykes and Marianne G. Stacy, both 48, were placed on two years' probation, said Michael Scerbo, a spokesman for the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.
In addition, they were prohibited Wednesday by Judge John Keegan, who presides over the Lake Pleasant Justice Court, from possessing or controlling any animal during the next two years, Scerbo said.
Keegan set a May 7 hearing to determine whether Sykes and Stacy have divested themselves of all animals. The court session will be at the Northwest Regional Court Center, 14264 W. Tierra Buena Lane, in Surprise.
The defendants were charged after Maricopa County sheriff's deputies obtained a search warrant and raided their property last July 3.
Deputies seized four horses and three pigs they said needed veterinary care. The raid was at a home in the 8900 block of West Calle Lejos, which is part of an unincorporated county island in north Peoria.
Sheriff Joe Arpaio said the animals were being kept in filthy conditions and that Sykes previously had been warned to take care of the animals.
Sykes and Stacy were charged with 28 counts, all misdemeanors, involving five goats, 14 pigs, four horses, two dogs, two rabbits and one bird, but pleaded to a single count alleging abuse of one of the horses.
They were sentenced after a neighbor, Barb Harden, addressed the court and lamented what she described as a lack of care given the animals.
Harden later said she feels relief that Sykes and Stacy, under the terms of their plea agreement, will be deprived of animals for the next two years. References« AZ State Animal Cruelty Map
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