By Rodney L. Sherman – Clarion News Editor
KNOX – A summary animal neglect trial in Knox ended Friday with a guilty plea and resulted in tensions between a humane officer, her supporters and the Clarion County district attorney and sheriff.
Also coming out of the testimony and after-trial confrontations was the filing of a motion to prevent state humane officer Penny Dewoehrel from patrolling and filing cases in Clarion County.
Dewoehrel, meanwhile, has started an online petition to have Clarion County District Attorney Mark Aaron removed from his elected office.
St. Petersburg couple charged with neglect
Court documents say Lorraine L. Girty, no age provided, and Richard Girty, 58, both of Route 58 in Richland Township, were charged by Dewoehrel with three counts each of cruelty or neglect of animals (allegedly failed to provide food and water, adequate shelter and veterinary care to dogs, cats, chickens and turkeys) at 12:50 p.m. Sept. 6 along Route 58.
The charges, however, weren’t filed until Oct. 4. Court documents contend the original citations weren’t able to be entered in the court system computer due to a lack of code information, missing addresses and multiple city addresses.
Meanwhile, on Sept. 26, the Girtys’ house burned down.
The charges filed against the Girtys were classified as summary offenses and very little probable cause evidence is listed on summary offense citations.
However, according to other court documents, Dewoehrel had obtained a valid search warrant for the Girty residence, and in the course of executing the search warrant she seized several dogs and cats.
Testimony at Friday’s hearing indicated Dewoehrel seized four dogs and two cats.
Prior to the trial Friday, Aaron and defense attorney John C. Lackatos met for several minutes and apparently worked out a plea agreement.
During the trial, Aaron said the Girtys would plead guilty to one count of animal neglect and would pay restitution for veterinary treatment.
Turk accepted the plea agreement and in addition to the restitution costs which were not immediately clear as several figures were mentioned fined the Girtys $100 plus costs.
The return of the animals
During the trial, Aaron said the Girtys’ ownership of the dogs and cats had not been forfeited and there had been no legal motions filed to forfeit the ownership of the animals.
Dewoehrel indicated the dogs had been sent to foster homes in Allegheny County while she had possession of the cats.
Long ordered Dewoehrel to make arrangements with Clarion County Sheriff Rex Munsee to meet, during which time Dewoehrel would turn the animals over to Munsee who would in turn return the animals to the Girtys’ new home in Oil City.
In her ruling Turk ordered Aaron to contact Oil City police and request that department to check on the situation at the Girtys’ residence at random times for several months or for however long they believe necessary.
On the stand, Dewoehrel countered, “We don’t agree the animals should be returned. They were subjected to cruelty.”
A back and forth exchange then began between Dewoehrel and Lackatos as he attempted to learn the name of the person providing the foster care for the dogs.
At one point, Dewoehrel asked, “What is the point of this?”
Eventually, Dewoehrel said she could contact the foster care provider and have the dogs returned to Clarion County.
The trial then ended.
The arguments move outside