6/20/14 - After being found guilty on charges of animal cruelty, a Cohoctah Township woman has been ordered to never again possess animals. 71-year-old Velva Jean Wainscott was found guilty of cruelty to one animal causing death as well as two counts of animal cruelty by District Court Judge Carol Sue Reader in a bench trial last month. This week, Wainscott was sentenced to 24 months of probation and ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, the results of which must be released to her probation officer. Judge Reader also banned Wainscott from ever again owning animals, with the exception of her dog. The court also ordered the forfeiture of Wainscottâs horses, which will be adopted out. The charges stemmed from an incident in January when one of Wainscottâs horses was found dead in its paddock, leading to authorities seizing the remainder of her animals, which is pictured here. Witnesses testified that the water put out for the other horses was frozen, and the hay for them to eat was soiled and inedible. Wainscott said her animals had plenty of food and water, and that she had many friends who helped care for them. Her horses had previously been taken in 2010 when she was charged with animal cruelty, but those charges were later dismissed. (JK)
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