Karrie Lyn Gleason, 32, had been set to go to trial later this month, but agreed Friday in Berrien County Trial Court to a deal that had her pleading no contest to a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty involving 2-3 horses rather than the felony charge of animal cruelty involving four to 10 animals she originally faced.
Gleason was placed on one year's probation and can have her record cleared if she successfully completes all of the probation requirements. She must pay $1,130 in fines and costs and $771 in restitution to the River Valley Equine Clinic. She must also perform 60 hours of community service by March 1, 2015.
Berrien County Trial Judge Dennis Wiley also ordered Gleason to not care for anyone else's animals.
Gleason was arrested earlier this year after horses left in her care between Sept. 1, 2013, and Feb. 20, 2014, either died or were near death. She was serving as a caretaker at a property on Buffalo Road in Bertrand Township when the neglect took place.
Wiley said in May that testimony at a preliminary hearing showed that horse owner Deborah Redding had left the horses in Gleason's care when Redding moved from the property on Buffalo Road in Bertrand Township and that veterinarian Aarie Houseknecht euthanized one horse in late January after finding it in shock and otherwise poor, emaciated condition.
Wiley also cited the testimony of another veterinarian, Garry Fedore, who saw the surviving horses in early February and found them to be suffering from malnutrition as well as animal control officer Dan Atherton, who inspected the horses on Feb. 3 and found the water frozen in buckets. Fedore saw the horses a month later after they had been moved to Coloma and found them making a rapid recovery.
The case raised criticism of Berrien County Animal Control by neighbors and a representative of the Michigan Horse Welfare Coalition. They claimed they made complaints to Animal Control as long as two years ago with no response. Berrien County Animal Control Director Val Grimes denied their claims and said her office promptly addresses all complaints received.
(South Bend Tribune - Aug 8, 2014)
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