Hoarding 25 dogs - Roanoke, VA

Monday, Jul 31, 2006

County: Roanoke City

Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Monica Blair Yates

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

In August 2006, Monica Blair Yates, 39, of Botetourt County was found guilty in Botetourt County General District Court of one count of animal neglect. Judge Louis Campbell dismissed an additional 20 counts, and four counts were held under advisement, the Botetourt County Sheriff's Office said in a press release.

Those charges came after authorities found 22 puppies and three dogs crammed into crates soiled with animal waste at Yates' Buckingham Court house, said Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Jill Deegan.

The animals were severely underweight and some suffered respiratory infections and an intestinal infection that causes diarrhea, Deegan said.

Case Updates

Monica Yates will not go to jail. Instead she received a suspended sentence, seven years probation and she'll have to pay a Troutville vet more than $2,500. Forty year-old Monica Blair Yates could have spent as much as seven-years behind bars, but Tuesday morning in a plea agreement with the state she received a suspended sentence and credit for the 68-days she spent in jail. Yates was initially accused of animal cruelty in August after deputies raided her home in Botetourt County and found 25 dogs caged, malnourished and living in their own feces. After a judge ordered her not to own anymore pets- another raid found more starved animals and this time three dead puppies. Yates' attorney says there's more to the story and his client will eventually get to share her side, but in the meantime, she's truly sorry. Yates' troubles aren't over. She's accused of mismanaging more than one-million dollars during her time as a financial advisor. That's case is scheduled in late January and she'll remain behind bars until then.

Source: WDBJ - Nov 29, 2006 Update posted on Nov 29, 2006 - 11:56AM

References

• Roanoke.Com - Sept 27, 2006

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