“This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.”
Green Acre Boarding kennel owners Todd and MaLeisa Hughes met before a judge today to await sentencing in relation to animal cruelty and fraud charges against the couple for their parts in the death of 23 dogs in their care, known as the Gilbert 23.
On June 30, the Hughes accepted a plea deal which would, in exchange for their guilty plea, grant them 23 days in jail, 230 hours of community service, and 3 years of probation. Today’s hearing did not quite go their way. In the tearful, day-long hearing, owners of the dogs that died at Green Acre pleaded for a harsher sentence.
After a full day in court, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Margaret Mahoney, who admitted that she’d had dogs her entire life and views them in the same manner that people view their children, handed down a sentence of 60 days in jail, 230 days of community service – service that will not be performed at an animal shelter or similar venue, and 6 years of supervised probation (2 consecutive probationary terms) that restricts their communication with any of the victims and prohibits the use of alcohol.
Todd Hughes was immediately handcuffed and will serve his sentence beginning today, MaLeisa will begin her jail sentence on January 15, 2017.
Jo Brendel
Jan 6, 2017 at 9:44 am
What happened to the new FBI animal cruelty law?
The law is nothing but a joke!!!! No one is paying the price they should for these crimes against animals! I was so happy to think someone was actually going to take abuse seriously!……I should have known better!
Bettie Cooley
Sep 9, 2016 at 8:51 pm
Sentence not long enough what a joke they killed 23 dogs that did not deserve to die should have at least 1 year for every precious dog !
Dawn Ruttan
Sep 10, 2016 at 9:19 pm
I totally agree with Bettie..Just look at their smiling faces, they are laughing at these poor pet owners..someone NEEDS to do same to them they did to these precious dogs and maybe that will wipe that smirk off their faces! May all 23 dogs RIP.