Joseph and Charlene Handrik were due in municipal court in Howell on Friday to either plea guilty or head to trial, but Judge Susan Schroeder-Clark instead gave the couple more time to negotiate with the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The couple was charged with a total 552 counts of animal cruelty after animal welfare authorities found 276 dogs packed into their home on June 3. They face a maximum fine of $1 million.
Their attorney, Raymond Raya, said that although there were many dogs in the couple's home, the animals were well fed and cared for. He said theirs should be treated more as a civil case rather than a criminal one.
Howell dog hoarders appear in court; face maximum of $1M in fines
He said there is still time for the SPCA to file civil charges in place of the criminal complaints because the statute of limitations has not yet expired.
Raya said the couple was given a plea offer on Friday, but he would not disclose the proposed terms. But he said it addressed issues such as fines, restitution, penalties, charges and their ability to own pets in the future.
A trial, Raya said, would most likely be lengthy because it most likely would have to involve a mini-trial on how the Handriks treated each of the dogs.
All the dogs were put up for adoption.
(NJ.com - October 14, 2016)
Earlier:
- New Jersey: Joseph Handrik and Charlene Handrik had more than 270 dogs in 'extreme hoarding situation'
- New Jersey: Joseph Handrik and Charlene Handrik face 552 animal cruelty charges for hoarding dogs
- New Jersey: New Jersey: Howell dog hoarders Joseph Handrik and Charlene Handrik appear in court; face maximum of $1M in fines
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