Six weeks after Allison Dinsmore's March 12 arrest, Congress Middle Principal Kathy Harris notified Dinsmore, a 27-year-old special-education teacher, that she would not recommend renewing Dinsmore's contract for the 2010 school year, according to a Palm Beach County School District memo. In the memo, Harris told Dinsmore that she was the subject of an investigation into allegations of unprofessional conduct and ethical misconduct.
Dinsmore was sent home with pay after her arrest. She is charged with two counts of felony animal cruelty, each carrying a maximum five years in prison.
On Sept. 25, Angelette Green, director of the district's employee relations department, notified Dinsmore in a memo that the allegations against her had been substantiated and her employment had been terminated, though since her contract already was not renewed the decision needed no School Board action.
On Feb. 23, Boca Raton police were called to Dinsmore's apartment in the Boca Sol complex on Northeast 20th Street by the community's manager, who said she entered the apartment in search of Dinsmore, who was late with the rent.
The stench inside was a mixture of ammonia, feces and rotting flesh, according to a police report. The corpse of one cat was found in the prone position under an entertainment center, the other cat lay dead inside a kitchen cabinet. A veterinarian determined the animals died of dehydration and starvation at least a month before being discovered.
Dinsmore told police that she had last been to her apartment sometime before the weekend of Feb. 14, when she went camping with her family. She had previously left her pets for a week at a time, filling their bowls with food and water, and they had been fine, she said, explaining that she had been working long hours and spending time with her boyfriend.
"She said she thought about them, but just did not get a chance to come home," according to the report.
Although Dinsmore's trial is scheduled to begin Monday, her attorney, Jordan Lewin, of Miami, has filed a motion to continue the case until January or February. Lewin's motion to Circuit Judge Stephen Rapp says that he's looking to hire a veterinary science expert and all of the people he's considering are from out of state and would have conflicts because of the holidays.
Lewin also writes that he's working diligently to resolve the case before trial. He has pending before the court a motion to throw out the search of Dinsmore's apartment, saying it was done illegally since police had neither a search warrant or Dinsmore's consent.
Jordan Lewin will have to answer for his sins one day.
(Sun Sentinel - December 7, 2009)
Earlier:
- Florida: Teacher Allison Dinsmore is accused of starving her cats to death. Cats tore apartment apart frantically trying to escape before dying of dehydration and starvation
- Florida: Teacher Allison Dinsmore's two cats suffered for "weeks or months" before finally dying inside her abandoned apartment. For that, she has been charged with two felonies
