Attorneys/Judges
| Prosecutor(s): | Michael Wynhausen | | Defense(s): | Tim Felling | | Judge(s): | Rick McCormick, Glen Baisinger |
Hoarding - 31 dogs seized
Albany, OR (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Oct 15, 2008
County: Linn
Charges: Summary, Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Carol Malone
There still is no resolution in an animal neglect case involving an 81-year-old Sweet Home woman whose 31 dogs were seized from her Greenville Road property last October by Linn County sheriff's deputies.
Carol Malone was charged with 31 counts of second-degree animal neglect, a misdemeanor, and 10 counts of keeping an unlicensed dog, which is a violation.
In a plea agreement, Malone was expected to plead guilty to just one count of neglect and be sentenced Friday [Jan 23, 2009] afternoon when she appeared before Linn Circuit Judge Glen Baisinger.
Instead, Malone's court-appointed attorney, Tim Felling, said his client did not want to plead guilty because she could lose her right to have pets for the next five years. Felling said Malone was prepared to go to trial.
Deputy District Attorney Michael Wynhausen told the court that if the woman did not agree to plead to the agreed upon count on Friday, he would take the case to the grand jury and she could end up facing additional charges.
Felling then asked if the court could keep a window of time open so he could continue talking to his client about accepting the plea agreement.
The judge and Wynhausen agreed.
Proceedings were continued until 8:30 a.m. Feb. 17. Wynhausen said until that time he would accept a plea to the single charge even if the grand jury were to add more charges. But if Malone still insisted on a trial on Feb. 17 the deal was off.
Last Wednesday Malone appeared before Judge Rick McCormick to enter a plea. When she learned that she would be prohibited from owning dogs for five years, she told her attorney she was not ready to enter a plea. It was then that the Friday court time was set.
The seized dogs, which had intestinal parasites, ear mites, urine scale, matted fur and were not socialized, were placed in foster care.
Last week, SafeHaven Humane Society asked for donations totaling $2,300 to pay for heart surgery for one of the puppies whose mother was seized, 7-week-old Bolt.
SafeHaven Executive Director Chris Storm attended the court proceeding on Friday. She said more than $5,000 had been donated for the surgery. The extra funds would be used for other animals needing "extensive care."
Storm said Bolt would go to the Oregon State University Small Animal Hospital on Wednesday for a consultation. If the puppy is healthy enough, surgery would take place on Thursday. References« OR State Animal Cruelty Map
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