Beatrice Newsom, 26, pleaded no contest to one count of aggravated animal cruelty during a case management hearing Thursday morning.
Circuit Judge Brian Iten sentenced Newsom to six months probation as part of the negotiated plea deal.
“Conditions of that probation are you are not allowed to own, possess or in any way have custody of any canines,” Iten told her.
With no prior record, Iten agreed to withhold the conviction from Newsom’s record.
Newsom had originally been offered a pre-trial diversion, which if she had successfully completely would have led to the charges against her being dropped.
After the hearing, Assistant State Attorney Lisa Chittaro said that the negotiated plea was holding Newsom “proportionately accountable based on the totality of all circumstances surrounding this incident.”
While the dog, Michelle, had been in extremely poor condition at the time of this incident, Chittaro said, she took into account the degree and level of Newsom’s involvement, facts and circumstances that were revealed through the investigation by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office as the case made its way through the court system.
Despite failing to complete her pre-trial program, Newsom had substantially complied with her conditions since June 2016, Chittaro added.
Newsom had owned Macy since the female pit bull was about 8 months old in July 2012. But Newsom gave Macy to a friend along with two of her other dogs on Aug. 21, 2013.
Two days later Manatee County Animal Services seized the dog after receiving a call about concerns about the pit bull’s health.
The animal services officer noted in his report that the dog was so thin and could hardly stand. A licensed veterinarian later determined the dog was emaciated and had muscle atrophy that had occurred over a long period of time.
ORIGINAL ARREST INFO:
Full Name: Beatrice M Newsom
Date:08/29/2015
Time: 10:30 AM
Arrest Location:13300 CORTEZ BLVD, Hernando, FL
Personal Information
Arrest Age: 24
Current Age: 26
Gender: Female
Birthdate: 09/21/1990
Charges
#1 ANIMAL CRUELTY
STATUTE: 828.12
