CANTON ‒ A man and a woman found living in a home with hundreds of rats and other animals, dead and alive, have each pleaded guilty to seven counts of cruelty to companion animals, misdemeanors of the first degree.
Stark County Common Pleas Judge Chryssa N. Hartnett sentenced the couple on June 18 to 180 days in jail, with credit for any days served. The rest of the time was suspended on condition of two years’ good behavior. They are to have no pets and no contact with each other, said the prosecutor on the case.
“They both have remaining jail time hanging over their heads if they violate the terms of good behavior,” Chelsea R. Small, assistant Stark County prosecutor, wrote in an email. “If they were to ever be charged with animal cruelty again, it would enhance to a felony level offense.”
The woman, 41, and the man, 45, were initially charged with seven counts of cruelty to companion animals, felonies of the fifth degree.
“Initially, the charges were based on serious physical harm to the animals, which I could not prove based on the information contained in the records from the Humane Society,” Small wrote. “The records indicated that the dogs presented with healthy weight, and one was actually classified as overweight.”
The defendants were charged in March after officials found their rented home in the 1000 block of Wertz Avenue SW was filled with hundreds of rats, feces, urine, dirt, garbage, clutter, deceased animal remains and other contamination.
The Canton police complaints against the suspects say they knowingly caused serious physical harm to three dogs, two birds and two turtles by confining the animals in deplorable conditions.
The live rats, and more than 100 dead ones, were removed from the home by The Pipsqueakery, an animal rescue organization in Bloomington, Indiana, and a representative of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
Dogs, parakeets and turtle were taken in by other animal welfare groups. A chicken, which still had feathers, was among the animals found.
Human bones found in the house have not been connected to any nefarious activity, the Stark County Coroner’s Office said.
“Reportedly, he told the police he bought them when he was down in Louisiana,” said Tamara “Tammy” Wilkes, a death investigator for the coroner.
The Repository gave attorneys representing the defendants the opportunity to comment on their cases June 20. One is employed by the Stark County Public Defender’s Office, which does not typically comment on cases. The other is in private practice.
The woman who pleaded guilty to the animal cruelty charges remained in the Stark County Jail on June 20. She is awaiting trial on charges of felonious assault and misdemeanor domestic violence. She has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or nancy.molnar@cantonrep.com.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton couple who lived in filthy home with 100s of rats avoid prison on cruelty charges
Reporting by Nancy Molnar, Canton Repository / The Repository
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