John Philip Staten Sr., 65, of Pasco avoided jail time but must pay $600 in fines for keeping 42 dogs, some with broken bones and open sores, in rooms at his home ridden with feces and urine.
John Philip Staten Sr. pleaded guilty Monday morning to the gross misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty after Pasco prosecutor Terry Tanner offered him a deal without jail time.
"It's the only way I can handle it right now," a frail-looking Staten told Pasco Municipal Court Judge Mary Ramirez at his sentencing.
Ramirez told Staten he can't own more than three animals, which is a city law. He also must allow a Pasco code enforcement officer to inspect his A Street house every month for the next two years, Ramirez said. If Staten violates the conditions of his probation during the next two years, he could face up to one year in jail.
Ramirez asked Staten if he neglected the 42 animals that lived in his house until last June.
"I guess so," Staten replied.
Tri-City Animal Control Authority officers said Staten was cited and fined $90 May 18 for not having licenses for his Chihuahua and dachshund cross dogs.
Four or five days later, Staten brought five wild dogs to the Pasco shelter, the authority reported. Those dogs had to be put down. Shortly after, Staten and his roommate brought nine more dogs to the shelter. Staten and Hollister also gave 10 dogs to the Benton-Franklin Humane Society.
Staten was given until June 3 to clean up his house, which had 6 to 8 inches of feces and urine in some areas of the 1,000-square-foot building, authority director Bruce Young reported in July. However, nothing had been cleaned by the deadline.
On June 3, Young gave Staten 10 more days to clean up and get his dogs licensed. When nothing had changed as of June 15, Young cited him again, this time with a $150 fine for not having licenses.
When animal control officers found out there still were dogs living at Staten's house, they served Staten with a warrant, Young said. Officers removed 18 dogs, some with broken legs and sores.
One of the dogs with a broken leg was Cinnamon, who was featured in a Herald story in 1999. At that time, Cinnamon had a broken leg, and Staten, a Vietnam veteran, couldn't afford to repair her injuries. People from all over the world donated money to send Cinnamon to Washington State University in Pullman for surgery.
Pasco code enforcement officers wrote Staten up separately June 22 and gave him until July 2 to clean up his home. Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
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