Attorneys/Judges
| Defense(s): | Linda Branstetter, Tim Laughlin | | Judge(s): | Carl Gibson |
Puppy Mill - 59 dogs rescued
Bartlesville, OK (US)Incident Date: Monday, May 17, 2010
County: Nowata
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» Wesley Dion Griner
» Carolyn Nichole Vaughn
Case Updates: 3 update(s) available
A Bartlesville woman currently free on $2,500 bond on Nowata County charges of cruelty to animals has been cited on related charges in Bartlesville.
According to Bartlesville Police Department Animal Control Officer Rita Harvey, 34-year-old Carolyn Nichole Vaughn has been cited with six violations after "numerous complaints from neighbors."
Harvey told the Examiner-Enterprise that on Thursday, Vaughn was given three citations for having no intact permits and three more citations for having no city dog licenses at a residence in the 2600 block of Quail Place.
Vaughn and her co-defendant, Wesley Dion Griner, 39, had initial appearances last week in Nowata County court on charges of cruelty to animals in a case stemming from the discovery of a "puppy mill" at a rural Nowata residence.
The term "puppy mill" generally refers to commercial canine and/or feline breeding operations that produce the animals in large quantities. A common complaint against puppy mills is that the animals are generally bred and kept in substandard, overcrowded and unsanitary conditions with little regard for the pets' health, safety or welfare, according to www.okpuppymilltruth.org/
Nowata and Washington County officials rescued 59 dogs during the raid in which they found the animals to be living in what they described as filthy and deplorable conditions. The dogs were said to be covered in their own feces and housed in cages that cut their feet.
One dog reportedly was unable to open its mouth due to the matted fur around its muzzle.
Officials say it has been hard to get an accurate count because several of the females were pregnant and have been having puppies.
On June 3, Associate District Judge Carl Gibson ordered Vaughn and Griner to pay $900 to the Nowata Animal Shelter, $2,880 to Dr. Sarah Gordon and $7,176 to the Washington County SPCA in connection with care for the dogs seized.
According Nowata County personnel in the court clerk's office, the judge hearing the case on Friday, June 11, decided to forfeit the animals to their holding agencies.
The accused have 10 days from the time of the ruling to appeal the decision. If no appeals are made, the dogs will be put up for adoption.
Like Vaughn, Griner is free on $2,500 bond.
Case UpdatesOne suspect in an alleged Nowata County "puppy mill" case has pleaded "not guilty" to charges of cruelty to animals.
Wesley Dion Griner, 39, had formal arraignment on the charges Wednesday in Nowata County. At that time he was set for a status docket on Dec. 13, in preparation for an eventual jury trial.
Griner's co-defendant in the case, 34-year-old Carolyn Nichole Vaughn, is set for preliminary hearing on Nov. 2 on similar charges.
Charges against the two were filed after authorities say they discovered a "puppy mill" in rural Nowata County on May 17. The term "puppy mill" generally
refers to commercial canine and/or feline breeding operations that produce the animals in large quantities. A common complaint against puppy mills is that the animals are generally bred and kept in substandard, overcrowded and unsanitary conditions with little regard for the pets' health, safety or welfare, according to the www.okpuppymilltruth.org website.
According to reports, several dogs were seized from the site, located on County Road 24 in the area of County Road 410.
On June 3, Associate District Judge Carl Gibson ordered Vaughn and Griner to pay $900 to the Nowata Animal Shelter, $2,880 to Dr. Sarah Gordon and $7,176 to the Washington County SPCA in connection with care for the dogs seized in the raid.
Vaughn and Griner are free on $2,500 bond each. | Source: examiner-enterprise.com - Oct 8, 2010
Update posted on Nov 6, 2010 - 1:46PM |
One suspect in an alleged Nowata County "puppy mill" case has pleaded "not guilty" to charges of cruelty to animals.
Wesley Dion Griner, 39, had formal arraignment on the charges Wednesday in Nowata County. At that time he was set for a status docket on Dec. 13, in preparation for an eventual jury trial.
Griner's co-defendant in the case, 34-year-old Carolyn Nichole Vaughn, is set for preliminary hearing on Nov. 2 on similar charges.
Charges against the two were filed after authorities say they discovered a "puppy mill" in rural Nowata County on May 17. The term "puppy mill" generally
refers to commercial canine and/or feline breeding operations that produce the animals in large quantities. A common complaint against puppy mills is that the animals are generally bred and kept in substandard, overcrowded and unsanitary conditions with little regard for the pets' health, safety or welfare, according to the www.okpuppymilltruth.org website.
According to reports, several dogs were seized from the site, located on County Road 24 in the area of County Road 410.
On June 3, Associate District Judge Carl Gibson ordered Vaughn and Griner to pay $900 to the Nowata Animal Shelter, $2,880 to Dr. Sarah Gordon and $7,176 to the Washington County SPCA in connection with care for the dogs seized in the raid.
Vaughn and Griner are free on $2,500 bond each. | Source: examiner-enterprise.com - Oct 8, 2010
Update posted on Nov 6, 2010 - 1:44PM |
The suspects in an alleged Nowata County "puppy mill" case did not have their preliminary hearings on charges of cruelty to animals Monday as expected.
Wesley Dion Griner, 39, waived his preliminary hearing, while a similar hearing for his co-defendant, 34-year-old Carolyn Nichole Vaughn, was passed.
Additionally, Vaughn's attorney, Linda Branstetter, withdrew from the case. Another attorney, Tim Laughlin, has reportedly been appointed to her case.
Charges against the two were filed after authorities say they discovered a "puppy mill" in rural Nowata County on May 17. The term "puppy mill" generally refers to commercial canine and/or feline breeding operations that produce the animals in large quantities. A common complaint against puppy mills is that the animals are generally bred and kept in substandard, overcrowded and unsanitary conditions with little regard for the pets' health, safety or welfare, according to the www.okpuppymilltruth.org website.
According to reports, several dogs were seized from the site, located on County Road 24 in the area of County Road 410.
On June 3, Associate District Judge Carl Gibson ordered Vaughn and Griner to pay $900 to the Nowata Animal Shelter, $2,880 to Dr. Sarah Gordon and $7,176 to the Washington County SPCA in connection with care for the dogs seized in the raid.
Vaughn's next court appearance is set for Aug. 30, at which time a new preliminary hearing date will be set.
Griner's next appearance will be Oct. 6, for formal arraignment.
Vaughn and Griner are free on $2,500 bond each. | Source: examiner-enterprise.com - Aug 17, 2010
Update posted on Nov 6, 2010 - 1:19PM |
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