Case Details

Hoarding - 7 cats, 5 dogs seized
Springfield, IL (US)

Date: Aug 15, 2003
County: Sangamon
Local Map: available
Disposition: Convicted

Abuser/Suspect: Rosemary Sugent-Fox

Case ID: 4857
Classification: Hoarding
Animal: dog (non pit-bull), cat
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A Sangamon County judge found a Springfield woman whose animals have been the subject of numerous neighborhood complaints guilty of animal hoarding on June 21, 2005.

However, Rosemary Sugent-Fox, 60, of the 1800 block of South Second Street was acquitted of four other charges.

Associate Circuit Judge John Mehlick delivered the judgment following a daylong bench trial. Sugent-Fox will be sentenced on the misdemeanor conviction July 15.

The charge said she "knowingly hoarded companion animals, placing the seven cats and five dogs in a severely overcrowded environment and failing to provide adequate food and veterinary care."

Sangamon County animal control personnel removed seven cats and five dogs from Sugent-Fox's home Aug. 15, 2003.

One of the cats had to be euthanized shortly after it arrived at the county animal control facility, but the other animals remain there and are visited frequently by Sugent-Fox. At the hearing, in addition to sentencing Sugent-Fox, Mehlick will determine what happens to those animals.

Assistant state's attorney Scott Kains said the state won't seek jail time for Sugent-Fox, but will recommend some type of counseling.

Mehlick found Sugent-Fox not guilty of resisting arrest and obstructing a civil process.

Based on testimony June 21, he said, Sugent-Fox tried to stop an animal control officer from entering the home with a snare loop that he was going to use to isolate a dog in the basement, but she didn't resist Springfield police officer Sgt. Michael Hickey, as charged. Mehlick also said she didn't obstruct the execution of the search warrant, but instead tried to obstruct the removal of her animals.

Mehlick also found Sugent-Fox not guilty of animal cruelty, saying it was not proved that she knew the lack of veterinary care would result in the animals' death. And she was acquitted of a charge of violation of owner's duties, which alleged she disregarded the care needs of all 12 animals.

Mehlick said it was obvious that, based on photographs, the black-and-white cat that had to be euthanized was suffering, but the remaining 11 animals needed only care for fleas and ear mites.

Neighbors repeatedly had complained that Sugent-Fox's animals had attacked other animals and people in the area. They also said pet odors were a frequent problem.

After her animals were seized, Sugent-Fox was taken to jail. She later was transferred to Memorial Medical Center for a psychiatric evaluation.

Animal control officer James Weakley testified he found the 900-square-foot house cluttered, with cats "running all over the place."

He said he found a dead cat in the basement, in a small area behind a makeshift door underneath the upstairs bathroom. He said there was water and fecal matter in the basement as well as a strong smell of urine.

"There was a problem with the plumbing," he said.

Under cross-examination by defense attorney Nolan Lipsky, Weakley said the five dogs and other cats were "in pretty good shape," although the black-and-white cat was lethargic, had an eye abscess and a nasal discharge.

Several cats escaped through holes in the roof when animal control officers tried to round them up, Weakley said.

Sugent-Fox's house was placarded, and the utilities were turned off. She has since made necessary repairs and is again living in the residence, Kains said.

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References

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