An investigator with the Winston County Sheriff’s Office, Sgt. Keith Concord, said 19-year-old Jerilyn Curtis and 18-year-old Angel Kitchens, both of Ferguson Road in Jasper, have each been charged with 23 counts of animal cruelty under a subdivision of the Code of Alabama that pertains to living conditions of the animals that were reportedly in their care.
“We responded to a call about some deceased animals being dumped in the woods on some private property, and while investigating that case we received information pertaining to this case,” Concord said. “Lt. Wes Brown and I investigated this case as we would any other criminal case, and this is the result of it, 23 counts of animal cruelty.”
Concord said during the investigation the officers learned the two women were reportedly trying to take care of far too many animals and had gotten in over their heads.
Of the 23 dogs rescued, seven had to be put down.
Both women are being held on a $6,900 bond each.
“At that point we contacted the Marion/Winston County Animal Shelter and they came out and removed the animals from their custody,” Concord said. “All of the animals reportedly came from Walker County Animal Shelter in Jasper, where they were returned.”
Concord said the Winston County Sheriff’s Office will be passing the findings of their investigation on to the City of Jasper Police Department for further investigation on their end.
Jasper Police Chief Connie Cooner Rowe said her department is following the Winston County investigation closely.
“We’ve been assured that if their investigation leads to information that a crime was committed in our jurisdiction, we’ll be notified,” Rowe said. “It is my understanding that the Winston County investigators are sorting out when and where various events took place at this point.”
Rowe said anyone with information regarding the case should contact the law enforcement agency who has jursidiction where a crime may have occurred. The Winston County Sheriff’s Office may be contacted at 205-489-2115. The Jasper Police Department may be contacted at 205-221-2121.
(Daily Mountain Eagle - Jan 25, 2013)
