| Case ID: 9690 |
| Classification: Hoarding |
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| Person(s) in animal care |
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| Prosecutor(s): | Louis Marshall |
| Defense(s): | Richard Kuck |
| Judge(s): | Debra Heise |
For more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
Wednesday, Sep 6, 2006
County: BonnerDisposition: Convicted
Defendants/Suspects:
» Edwin J. Criswell
» Cheryl L. Perkins
Case Updates: 5 update(s) available
In what authorities have called Idaho's worst case of animal cruelty, The Humane Society of the United States and the Idaho Humane Society this week deployed personnel to assist local law enforcement officials with a large-scale "hoarding" investigation.
On September 6, deputies from the Bonner County Sheriff's Department executed a search warrant for evidence of animal cruelty at the Voice of the Animals Sanctuary in rural Blanchard, Idaho. Disaster responders from The HSUS, working alongside the Idaho Humane Society, found more than 400 cats, and a number of dogs, goats and chickens. Many were in extremely poor health and had to be euthanized.
The animals were housed in and around nine dilapidated mobile homes on the property, according to published reports. Inside the trailers, investigators found that the walls were soaked in urine and the floors caked with feces and filth. Veterinarian and IHS executive director Dr. Jeff Rosenthal described the cats as all being "infested with fleas and ear mites. The majority were also in an emaciated state and suffered with upper respiratory illnesses, chronic diarrhea and abscesses," among other ailments. A veterinary team is still in the process of examining the animals and assessing their conditions.
The owners of the sanctuary, Edwin J. Criswell and Cheryl L. Perkins, have been charged with 21 counts each of neglect and cruelty to animals, which can result in a $300 fine and/or up to six months in jail per count. The HSUS and IHS are working with the Bonner County Sheriff's Department and the prosecuting attorney to provide information in the case.
The cats were surrendered by Criswell and Perkins to IHS and removed to a temporary shelter The HSUS is operating in nearby Priest River. "We'll care for the animals as long as needed," said HSUS's Inga Gibson, who assisted with the rescue. "Once they are well enough, cats will be transferred to area animal shelters for adoption."
Jeff Eyre, HSUS director of disaster field rescue, is leading the team of six responders, including a veterinarian, and personnel from Maryland, Florida, and HSUS' West Coast and Northern Rockies regional offices who are equipped to respond to animal emergencies that exceed the capability of local agencies.
The HSUS and IHS wish to thank the following agencies, which were vital to the rescue operation: Spokane Humane Society, SpokAnimal, Spokane County Regional Animal Protective Services (SCRAPS), and Lewis Clark Animal Shelter in Lewiston, Idaho. Because of this collaborative effort, the cats have a chance at a better life. "That's the silver lining of these cases," says Gibson. "Even though the animals have endured horrendous conditions, we can now place them in the loving homes they deserve."
Case Updates
| The owners of a northern Idaho cat sanctuary where over 400 cats were found - with more than half of those euthanized because of illness - say they want the surviving animals back. Cheryl Perkins and Edwin Criswell say they miss the cats and can take care of the survivors better than the people who have them. However, as part of a plea agreement on animal neglect and cruelty charges last month, Perkins and Criswell are forbidden from having more than 20 domesticated animals in their care. They have 16 currently. They were each fined $1,000 and placed on unsupervised probation for two years, and received suspended 180-day jail terms. Bonner County Deputy Prosecutor Louis Marshall says he will argue for the two to serve the 180 days in jail if they exceed 20 animals. |
| Source: Times-News - Feb 5, 2007 Update posted on Feb 5, 2007 - 9:12PM |
| Edwin J. Criswell and Cheryl L. Perkins entered Alford pleas as part of an agreement with the state on Jan 19. In exchange for the pleas, half of the charges pending against them were dismissed. Criswell, 43, and Perkins, 58, admit no wrongdoing, but concede they would be convicted if their cases went to trial. At sentencing, Idaho judges make no distinction between an Alford plea and a regular guilty plea. Charges were brought against the two after the Humane Society of the United States seized more than 400 cats from their Stone Road property on Sept. 6, 2006. The cats were living in a half-dozen ramshackle trailer homes on the property and more than half of the cats had to be destroyed due to severe illness, according to HSUS. Veterinary assessments which accompanied charging papers indicated the cats suffered from a variety of illnesses, including emaciation, ear mites, fleas, ringworm, diarrhea, periodontal stomatitis, conjunctivitis and abscesses. A number of the cats also had urine and feces scalding. Perkins and Criswell were each charged with 10 counts of animal cruelty and 10 counts of permitting an animal to go without care, both of which are misdemeanors. There is no provision in state law to prosecute animal cruelty at the felony level. The prosecution intentionally limited the number of charges against Criswell because such a large number of cats were involved. The plea deal called for each defendant to plead guilty to the animal cruelty charges in exchange for the dismissal of the neglect charges. The cruelty charge carries a maximum punishment of six months and fines up to $5,000. Bonner County Deputy Prosecutor Louis Marshall recommended suspended six-month jail sentences, which would run concurrently. Marshall told the court he does not believe Criswell and Perkins intentionally harmed the cats. "They did attempt to care for these animals and it overcame them," Marshall said. Defense counsel for Perkins and Criswell, Richard Kuck, said the Voice of the Animals shelter went into a tailspin after the drinking water well on the property became contaminated and the loss of a bulk pet food supplier. Voice of the Animals, specialized taking in cats that were deemed too ill to be adopted and thus in danger of being euthanized, a practice the non-profit opposes. "We were the only open door out there for them," Criswell said. Judge Debra Heise accepted the terms of the plea deal, saying she also does not believe Criswell and Perkins were malevolent in their operation of the cat shelter. She imposed the mandatory minimum fine of $100 per charge -- $1,000 total -- for both defendants, neither of whom are employed. Perkins and Criswell were placed on unsupervised probation for two years, a condition of which forbids them from having more than 20 domesticated animals in their care. A search provision was included to verify compliance with the probation conditions. After the hearing, Perkins said she felt animals seized from the shelter had been murdered and doubts she will ever have closure due to the loss of the animals. "It's been the worst -- worst -- thing to happen in my entire life," she said. |
| Source: Bonner County Dail Bee - Jan 20, 2007 Update posted on Jan 22, 2007 - 12:31AM |
| The operators of a Blanchard cat shelter where hundreds of sick and dying cats were seized and euthanized are scheduled to be tried next month on animal cruelty and neglect charges. Counsel for Edwin J. Criswell and Cheryl L. Perkins entered written pleas of not guilty last fall. A jury of six people is slated to hear the misdemeanor cases against Criswell and Perkins on Feb. 1 in the magistrate division of 1st District Court. Criswell, 43, and Perkins, 58, are both charged with 10 counts of animal cruelty and 10 counts of permitting animals to go without care. Each of the misdemeanor charges is punishable by up to six months in jail and fines of up to $5,000. Bonner County Sheriff's deputies and officials from the Humane Society of the United States raided the Voice of the Animals Camelot Shelter on Stone Road on Sept. 6, 2006. More than 400 cats were seized and more than half of them had to be destroyed due to severe illness. The seizure stands as the largest seizure of domestic animals in Idaho history, according to the Humane Society. The criminal complaints allege Criswell and Perkins negligently confined 10 cats in unsanitary conditions and allowed 10 more to go without care. Each of the 20 cats described in the complaints were euthanized. Documents filed with the charging papers said the cats suffered from a variety of afflictions, including ear mites, fleas, ringworm, diarrhea, periodontal stomatitis, conjunctivitis and abscesses. A number of the cats also had urine and feces scalding due to squalid living conditions. Criswell has bitterly denounced the Humane Society's actions, contending Voice of the Animals reached out to the animal welfare group for help and ended up being raided. Voice of the Animals, a non-profit group, specialized in taking in seriously and terminally ill cats. Due to the large number of cats involved, the state has opted not to seek additional charges because it would have the burden of proving the various elements of the charge hundreds of times. There is no provision in Idaho law to pursue animal cruelty charges at the felony level. |
| Source: Bonner County Daily Bee - Jan 13, 2006 Update posted on Jan 18, 2007 - 12:23PM |
| Court proceedings are being delayed in the case against the operators of a Blanchard cat shelter where more than 400 cats were found to be living in squalid conditions. Edwin J. Criswell and Cheryl L. Perkins' pre-trial hearing and jury trial are being pushed into early 2007 because of a scheduling conflict and the large volume of discovery, according to court records. Discovery is the pre-trial disclosure of pertinent facts and documents by parties in the case. Criswell, 43, and Perkins, 58, are both charged with 10 counts animal cruelty and 10 counts of permitting animals to go without care. Each of the misdemeanor charges is punishable by up to six months in jail and fines of up to $5,000. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Four hundred thirty cats were seized in the Sept. 6 search of the shelter, dubbed Voice of the Animals' Camelot Sanctuary. More than half of the cats had to be destroyed to due to severe illness, dehydration and emaciation, according to the Humane Society of the United States. The Humane Society said it is the biggest seizure of domestic animals in Idaho history. The criminal complaints allege Criswell and Perkins negligently confined 10 cats in unsanitary conditions and allowed 10 more to go without care. Each of the 20 cats described in the complaints were euthanized, according to court records. Documents filed with the charging papers said the cats suffered from a variety of afflictions, including ear mites, fleas, ringworm, diarrhea, periodontal stomatitis, conjunctivitis and abscesses. A number of the cats also had urine and feces scalding. The Humane Society accuses operators of the nonprofit shelter of hoarding animals, an allegation Criswell rejects. Criswell points out the operation specialized in taking cats too ill to be adopted and said the shelter fell on hard times financially. Due to the large number of cats involved, the state has opted not to seek additional charges because it would have the burden of proving the various elements of the charge hundreds of times There is no provision in Idaho law to pursue animal cruelty charges at the felony level. |
| Source: Bonner County Daily Bee - Oct 31, 2006 Update posted on Nov 1, 2006 - 4:09PM |
| A Nov. 16 trial is set for the operators of a Blanchard cat shelter where more than 400 cats were found to be living in squalid conditions. Edwin J. Criswell and Cheryl L. Perkins are both charged with 10 counts of animal cruelty and 10 counts of permitting animals to go without care. Each of the 20 misdemeanor charges is punishable by up to six months in jail and fines up to $5,000. The couple was scheduled to be arraigned in the magistrate division of 1st District Court today, but both defendants filed written pleas of not guilty through their Coeur d'Alene attorney on Sept. 13, one week after Humane Society of the United States officials and Bonner County Sheriff's deputies raided Voice of the Animals' Camelot sanctuary. Four hundred thirty cats were seized in the Sept. 6 search of the sanctuary at 1031 Stone Rd. More than half of the cats had to be destroyed due to severe illness, dehydration and emaciation, according to the Humane Society. The criminal complaints allege Criswell, 43, and Perkins, 58, negligently confined 10 cats in unsanitary conditions and allowed 10 more to go without care. Each of the 20 cats described in the complaints were euthanized, according to court records. The state is not seeking a charge for each cat seized because the sheer volume of cats would make prosecution unreasonably burdensome, Deputy Prosecutor Louis Marshall has said. Clipped to the complaints were 20 one-page condition reports filled out by Humane Society veterinarians. The reports catalog a grim list of ailments and afflictions including ear mites, fleas, ringworm, diarrhea, periodontal stomatitis, conjunctivitis and abscesses. A number of the cats also had urine and feces scalding. One cat had untreated broken back legs and "drags body around by front legs," a Humane Society veterinarian noted in a condition report. The cats were living in a group trailer homes, nearly all of which were dilapidated and stained with excrement. The Humane Society accuses Criswell and Perkins of hoarding animals and say the case stands as the largest seizure of animals in Idaho history. Criswell denies being an animal hoarder and says the Humane Society targeted Voice of the Animals for personal and political reasons. |
| Source: Bonner County Daily Bee - Oct 6, 2006 Update posted on Oct 8, 2006 - 1:41PM |
References
- Idaho Humane Society
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