By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – A jury took less than a half hour today to find an Onalaska woman guilty of nine counts of animal cruelty in connection with horses seized from her this past spring.
Jennifer Jenkins will be sentenced at a date yet to be scheduled, according to the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office.
Tuesday April 5, 2016
Lewis County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher said Jenkins testified on her own behalf during the two-day trial in Lewis County District Court, but the six-person jury didn’t “buy it.”
Back in April responders were called to Jenkins’ home on the 2500 block of state Route 508 because a small horse had fallen onto its side into a mud hole in her pen. Two and a half hours later it was finally lifted out, but the next day, Jenkins was arrested.
A Lewis County Sheriff’s Office report said the state veterinarian noted deplorable living conditions and said the animals were in serious need of medical attention.
Meagher said the issue was about inadequate shelter, food or water.
A veterinarian testified the horses had very low body condition scores, Meagher said. The hay they were being fed was not of good quality and while there was a barn on the property, it was filled with wood, he said.
Jenkins was represented by Centralia attorney David Brown.
Jenkins this afternoon said the proceedings were confusing and not what she expected.
“I thought we’d be able to put on my side of the evidence, but we didn’t,” she said.
The 45-year-old woman said she began showing horses when she was small and grew up with them.
She said she’d arranged for a friend to feed and take care of the animals while she and her son were away for four days, but when she got back, the field was muddy and animal feed had been stolen. She disputes the body condition scores.
“I was using portable shelters, but they’re always being torn down,” she said.
Jenkins said she is disabled from the effects of a traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury.
“It is what is is,” she said. “I don’t know what it’s all about; it’s just confusing.”
The offenses are violations of Lewis County code and are gross misdemeanors with maximum penalties of 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.
Meagher said Judge R.W. Buzzard ordered a pre-sentencing investigation to be conducted and will set a date for sentencing.
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For background, read “Onalaska horse owner pleads not guilty, vet notes ‘deplorable’ conditions” from Friday April 8, 2016, here
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