News
Woman Charged With Starving 12 Horses
By: Susan Tebben | The Athens Messenger
Posted on:
A Pomeroy woman is facing charges for allegedly starving 12 horses in Meigs County.
Karen L. Griffith, of 34440 State Route 7, will be arraigned next week on 21 charges of animal cruelty for allegedly committing the crimes against the animals for months, according to court documents.
With regard to 18 of the charges, there were two animal cruelty counts for nine horses. Only one charge was filed pertaining to the other three animals.
Griffith is also charged with three counts of obstructing official business for allegedly moving the horses from the farm, according to Meigs County Prosecutor Colleen Williams. Williams said she did not know where the horses were moved from but that currently all 12 horses are alive and being kept in a barn on Griffith’s property.
Williams and Griffith’s attorney, John Lavelle, have been working to make sure the horses are cared for while the case continues, Williams said.
The charges were filed on Wednesday, with a violation date of Sept. 14.
The Meigs County Humane Officer received a complaint in September that Griffith was allegedly starving the horses in her barn in Pomeroy.
“We found enough evidence to charge her,” said Humane Officer Andy Baer, who declined to comment further because of the active nature of the case.
Photographs were taken of the horses and the case was sent to Meigs County Court. The Meigs County Prosecutor’s Office has taken up the case and are hoping the investigation will move efficiently.
“We take cruelty to animals charges very seriously,” Williams said. “We have been working with (Griffith’s) attorney and we hope to keep the case moving pretty quickly.”
Lavelle could not be reached for comment on Thursday.
Griffith is scheduled to be arraigned in Meigs County Court on Nov. 21.