Update 10/16/01: Adkisson's conviction was overturned by the state Court of Criminal Appeals because of an improper search of the woman's property. The December 1998 search of Adkisson's property by members of the Hickman County Humane Society and the county sheriff's department was improper and "violated constitutional principles" according to Appeals Court Judge Gary R. Wade.
Original conviction information: Of the 253 counts of animal cruelty and the 1 count of tampering with evidence, Adkisson received a $3000 fine, 3 consecutive sentences of 11 month 29 days in jail (suspended) - that she not own any animals for 5 years unless approved by the Humane Society.
In July 2000 Adkisson was in violation of her parole by owning 164+ more dogs. 11 dogs were taken the veterinarian immediately and the rest went to the humane society.
The case was remanded to Hickman County Circuit Court for possible further action, however, Adkisson's lawyer John P. Cauley stated the case is over. "There's nothing left. They have taken all the animals and Adkisson is not going to try to get them back".
The animals were taken from Adkisson's property and adopted
Original casefile:
Patricia Adkisson housed 308 dogs of assorted breeds, sizes and ages, 38 purebred Arabian horses and about 20 cats on her property in horrendous and unspeakable conditions (no adequate food, shelter, etc.). The puppy mill was hidden off the main road, deep in the woods. There was no food bowls or water available. Skeletal remains were found surrounding the area where the dogs were kept. The stench was horrific. The animals were found terrified, starving, sick, deformed and injured. The skeletal remains of dogs, horses and goats had bullet holes in some of the skulls.
According to the Arabian Horse Registry CD (AHR) in 1996 Adkisson had 28 and her son Mark T. Adkisson had 4 Arabians registered in their names.
On May 3, 1999 Adkisson was indicted on 253 counts of cruelty to animals and 1 count of felony tampering with evidence. The felony tampering charges were filed because Adkisson, somehow managed to move all but 10 of the horses in the middle of the night. When questioned about this, Adkisson stated that she sold the horses.
The case went to trial on January 25, 2000, 13 months and 4 days after the puppy mill was closed down.
Adkisson was found guilty of 3 counts of animal cruelty (a misdemeanor). At her trial she received 3 consecutive sentences of 11 months and 29 days - suspended. She may not own animals for 5 years - unless Hickman Country Humane Society monitor her actions and be able to inspect her property at will (except for her private home). She was also fined $1,000 per dog (reduced from $2500) for a total of $3,000.
Cindy Wasden of the Hickman Humane Society stated "I won't go into all the details but the judge kept suppressing evidence on individual dogs which kept reducing the counts. The jury found her guilty of animal abuse by means of torture on 1 animal and guilty of animal abuse by means of failure to provide adequate care on 2 animals".
Before the Grand Jury Hearing, Adkisson filed a civil lawsuit against the Hickman Humane Society demanding the return of 81 dogs and compensation for "pain and suffering" she has endured. The Humane Society filed a counter-suit claiming her to be unfit to own animals and asking for full custody of all the dogs. At the civil trial Adkisson had been deposed - she pled the Fifth Amendment on most all questions.
In August 2000 Adkisson was again arrested. Hickman County Animal Control Officers discovered more than 164 dogs at one home, living in what they call deplorable conditions. Adkisson was ordered at her 1998 trial not to own animals for 5 years without first informing the Humane Society. This order she apparently ignored. Now Adkisson faces charges of animal cruelty
In May 2000 Dateline did a report on Adkisson and showed how she was selling puppies via the Internet. This also is in violation of her sentence.
According to court documents, Adkisson spent $8000 for medical expenses and $11,000 for food in an 18-month period for approximately 391 animals. That amounts to about $1.50 per month on food and $1.10 per month on medical care.
Taken from the Tennesee Bar Assoc.:
STATE OF TENNESSEE v. PATRICIA ADKISSON
Court:TCCA
Attorneys:
John P. Cauley, Franklin, Tennessee (on appeal), and Douglas T. Bates, III, Centerville, Tennessee (at trial), for the appellant, Patricia Adkisson.
Paul G. Summers, Attorney General & Reporter; David H. Findley, Assistant Attorney General; and Judson Phillips and Kenneth K. Crites, Assistant District Attorneys General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.
Judge: WADE
First Paragraph:
The defendant, Patricia Adkisson, who was charged with 253 counts of animal cruelty and one count of tampering with evidence, was convicted on three counts of animal cruelty. See Tenn. Code Ann. SS 39-14-202, 39-16-503. The trial court imposed three consecutive terms of 11 months, 29 days, and granted supervised probation. As a condition of probation, the defendant was prohibited from owning any caged animals for a period of five years. The defendant appealed. Later, the trial court revoked probation and a second appeal followed. In this consolidated proceeding, the defendant claims that (1) the trial court erred by denying her motion to suppress evidence gathered during the initial search of her property; (2) the evidence was insufficient; (3) the sentence was improper; and (4) the trial court lacked authority to revoke her probation. Because the search of the defendant's premises violated constitutional principles, the trial court erred by failing to suppress the evidence which led to the convictions. Accordingly, the convictions are reversed and the causes are remanded. Case UpdatesThe 1999 animal cruelty convictions have been overturned by the state Court of Criminal Appeals because of an improper search of the woman's property.
According to the Court of Criminal Appeals decision issued last week, the December 1998 search of Adkisson's property by members of the Hickman County Humane Society and the county sheriff's department was improper and ''violated constitutional principles.''
(see: Update posted on Jul 18, 2002 - 12:00AM |
Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
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