Hoarding - animals seized from home
Connellsville, PA (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Sep 20, 2011
County: Fayette

Charges: Summary
Disposition: Civil penalty imposed

Defendant/Suspect: Anthony Dwayne French

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

A Connellsville man, jailed on charges that he allegedly fondled a 12-year-old boy, is the subject of another police investigation that will likely lead to animal cruelty charges.

Anthony French, 45, of 216 W. Austin Ave., allegedly fondled a 12-year-old boy at Falcon Stadium after the high school football game Friday night. He is already a 10-year Megan's Law registrant. "

When police served a warrant at his home Tuesday for the Sept. 16 incident, an officer gained access and found dozens of animals housed in deplorable conditions.

"The officer contacted Tom (Currey, health officer). He requested the assistance of police. Two officers and Tom inspected the home in bio-suits because of the amount of animal feces and urine inside. They found 15 to 20 dogs in cages in deplorable conditions. Some of the cages were too small for the dogs. All were in very bad shape. Mice were in a cage, snakes were in an aquarium and rats were in a cage. Birds were also in the house, not exotic birds, but pigeons. Several more dogs were tied up outside. They weren't in as bad shape as the dogs inside," said Connellsville police Chief James Capitos.

"Animal hoarding is something I see on TV, I haven't seen it in Connellsville," Capitos said.

The SPCA arrived and removed all the animals from the home, which Anthony French shares with his mother, Eileen French, 67, listed as the owner on the Fayette County Assessment Office website.

Police are working with the SPCA before filing animal cruelty charges. Capitos said some of the dogs had to be euthanized because of their poor health.

"These are serious offenses. Cruelty to animals charges will be filed. There might be up to 40. We still have to get more information from the SPCA. The charges may be filed against both," Capitos said.

The investigation will take several days. Capitos did not anticipate filing charges until at least next week.

Currey placarded the home as unfit for human habitation. Capitos said he did not know where Eileen French was staying.

Anthony French is in Fayette County Jail in lieu of $10,000 straight cash bail on the charges of indecent assault to a minor younger than 13 years old, unlawful contact with a minor and harassment for the Sept. 16 incident at the stadium. "This case is pending. He's innocent until proven guilty," Capitos said. French faces a preliminary hearing before District Judge Ronald Haggerty Jr. at 1 p.m. Sept. 29.

In 2003, Andrew French pleaded guilty in Fayette County court to unlawful contact or communication with a minor. He received five years of probation and has to keep his information updated on the Megan's Law registry for 10 years.

Case Updates

References

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