Vincent Schonarth, 52, formerly of Route 3, Center Harbor will be sentenced on five Class B misdemeanor counts. Schonarth was cited for the living conditions found inside his Center Harbor home. A judge convicted him of two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and three counts of animal cruelty.
Schonarth was charged by police for allowing his two minor stepchildren, a boy age 13 and a girl age 11, to live in a home littered with animal waste.
The judge stated in her ruling, "It was the duty of the defendant to ensure that the children had a safe and habitable environment in which to live. It is not the obligation of the children to request that they be allowed to stay in an environment not inundated with feces and urine."
"The videotape and photographs paint a revealing picture of the state of the environment or these animals. The Court finds the conditions of the home were filthy and did not provide a proper environment for the cats in question."
Schonarth presented his evidence and argued he would spare no expense or never failed to provide proper medical care for his animals. Judge Sadler found otherwise.
The testimony of veterinarian Dr Christopher Jaques of Interlakes Animal Hospital in Meredith said he hadn't seen any of the Schonarths' cats in a number of months.
"Testimony was also presented that the medical conditions the animals suffered form were rectified to the extent medically possible after being taken from the defendant's property. It is logical that is the cats had been adequately medically attended to by the defendant, their presenting conditions would have been avoided."
Schonarth was found innocent of violating the state law requiring rabies vaccinations for animals, due to conflicting testimony.
The court found Schonarth breached a duty of care in regard to his youngest stepchildren by endangering the welfare of a child.
Schonarth's assertion that the children chose to sleep and eat in those conditions was without merit. It was the defendant's duty to ensure the children had a safe and habitable environment in which to live.
Schonarth is being held at the Carroll County Jail in Ossipee in lieu of $25,000 cash or surety bail. Charged with 17 counts of theft by deception and is scheduled to stand trial on the felony charges the first week of March. It is alleged he defrauded an 84-year old Sandwich man out of more than $300,000.
The police report alleges Schonarth's home had been used as a kennel for 60 cats and kittens and dozens of dogs. Case UpdatesA superior judge has ordered Vincent and Angie Schonarth and Mrs. Schonarth's daughter, Amanda Langill, must pay the Humane Society $3,228 for the food and care it provided for 36 cats and kittens and four dogs removed from their Center Harbor home.
The society asked for $5,208 or $12 a day for the dogs and $9 a day for the cats and kittens but the court reduced the award amount. The judge said he agreed with Mr Schonarth's argument that the shelter obtained adoption fees when it placed the plaintiff's animals in new homes and that amount was subtracted from the total award.
Angie Schonarth, 49, formerly of Center Harbor, was originally arrested on three counts of cruelty to animals and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. As a result of a negotiated disposition between her attorney and the Center harbor Chief of Police Andy Faller. Mrs Schonarth had two of the animal cruelty charges dismissed. The remaining charge was reduced to Class B misdemeanor which is not punishable by any jail time.
Vincent Schonarth, 52, was also charged with three counts of animal cruelty and two counts of child endangerment. Special Justice Lucinda Sadler is expected to make a ruling by the end of the week. Vincent Schonarth remains in Carroll County jail. He has been charged with 17 counts of theft by deception and is schedule to stand trial for the fist week of May. | Source: Fosters Daily Democrat - Dec 3, 2002
Update posted on Mar 30, 2006 - 3:22PM |
References« NH State Animal Cruelty Map
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