Jesse Aaron Shay, 32, Wells Drive, Bethel Park, and his co-defendant, Angela S. Bartels, 33, of Somerset, were accused by Somerset Borough police of throwing the bodies of four sheltie puppies in a trash bin along Lincoln Highway in Shade Township and of neglecting three horses in makeshift stalls under a carport on the same property in April 2012.
Shay, who pleaded guilty May 20, apologized to the court and the Somerset County Humane Society. He represented himself.
On April 22, 2012, Somerset Borough police investigated reports that Shay and Bartels had been seen loading what appeared to be black plastic garbage bags into their vehicle.
The bodies of four sheltie puppies were found in a dumpster along Lincoln Highway in Shade Township, according to police.
While on the property officers found three horses secured in makeshift stalls under a carport. The horses included two males and a pregnant mare. Police said the horses appeared to be seriously neglected and at least one of them was emaciated.
Police and animal control officers removed 19 animals from the couple’s home along Fuller Street in Somerset Borough during two previous raids. Police said a total of 25 animals were seized during the course of the investigation.
Somerset County President Judge John M. Cascio ordered Shay to perform 100 hours of community service and to pay court costs, a supervisory fee and $600 in fines.
On Aug. 1 Bartels was placed in the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program for two years based on animal cruelty charges stemming from hazardous conditions found at both properties and a lack of licenses and vaccinations for the animals.
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| Shay and Bartels at a court proceeding |
[Back in May 2012, Angela Bartels said all accusations against her are false, and the neighbors are just causing problems.]
"I'm very fed up," said Bartels, in May 2012. "I'm very upset and tired that people can't mind their own business."
The program is for first-time nonviolent offenders. If Bartels successfully completes the program, she may file a written motion for a court order dismissing the charges and expunging her record.
Somerset attorney Patrick Svonavec initially represented Shay and Bartels in this matter. He withdrew as Shay’s attorney March 20.
Note: This isn’t the first time Shay and Bartels have faced animal cruelty complaints. Online court documents show Shay and Bartels each pleaded guilty to a summary citation in September for an incident on Aug. 23, 2011. Nine other summary charges were dismissed for each defendant, records show.
(Daily American - August 28, 2013)
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