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Three people arrested in Citrus County following an animal cruelty investigation

- Florida, USA -

 

Deputies with the Citrus County Sheriff's Office arrested three people following an animal cruelty investigation involving a residence in Inverness.

 

At the beginning of January 2024, Animal Control Officers responded to a residence on East Watson Street and upon arrival, they “noticed a strong odor of animal feces and ammonia outside of the residence”, said the sheriff’s office.

 

Officers made contact with 23-year-old CHELSEA MARIA ANN SAAVEDRA ST. HILAIRE (pictured), who advised there were three dogs living on the enclosed patio and an additional three living inside her residence.

 

When deputies and Animal Control Officers entered the residence, they found multiple piles of garbage bags mixed with animal feces. They also reported finding multiple soiled diapers and empty liquor bottles scattered throughout the bedroom.

 

Urine was found inside the bathroom, and in the kitchen were stacks of dirty dishes and two buckets with mold growing inside them.

 

The release by the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office described the floors of the entire home as being “spongy and caked with feces” and many holes were also observed in the ceiling.

 

Many cats were found roaming inside the home but were able to come and go through windows.

 

An additional dog was found inside the home who had not been mentioned by ST. HILAIRE.

 

According to officers, there was little food and zero sources of water for any of the animals and most dogs had missing patches of fur due to fleas.

 

As officers continued their investigation, they discovered two juveniles living inside, one of which was crawling on the ground. The two children were immediately removed from the home.

 

The sheriff’s office said that a total of seven dogs were removed from the house as well as the cats roaming near the residence and they were all taken to the Citrus County Animal Shelter to be examined and treated.

 

Deputies arrested ST. HILAIRE, 68-year-old TINA JANE MADDOX , and 24-year-old ROBERT WAYNE BROOKS (all pictured). They were all charged with seven counts of animal cruelty.

 

Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast said: “The condition of this home was so disgusting that deputies and ACOs could not take a single step without their boot touching feces, urine, or both. No child or animal should ever have to experience living conditions such as this. I am thankful for the partnership between our team and the Citrus County Animal Shelter for saving these innocent young children and animals who cannot speak for themselves.”

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release by the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

 

 

Mugshots provided to Voice For Us by the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office




 
 
 

BRIANNA AUSTIN, dog groomer, and her brother, NICHOLAS RILEY AUSTIN, facing animal cruelty charges

- Florida, USA -

 

The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of 20-year-old BRIANNA AUSTIN and her brother 19-year-old NICHOLAS RILEY AUSTIN (both pictured).

 

According to the affidavit obtained by Voice For Us, a deputy was dispatched to a home on 3550 E Viaduct Lane in Hernando on the morning of August 30, 2024, to assist Animal Control Officer Capablanco regarding a door that was left open resulting in multiple dogs exiting the home and running loose.

 

Upon arrival, the deputy learned from ACO Capablanco that five dogs had gotten out of the home and had been picked up by an Animal Control volunteer who then took them to a local animal shelter.

 

In view of the fact that the front door was wide open, the deputy conducted a security check to attempt to identify the dogs’ guardian and make sure that no one was hurt inside the home.

 

As the deputy approached the home, he saw a large amount of feces as well as dried and wet urine all over the floor and furniture. The deputy reported that he found extremely difficult to walk as the floor did not have any spots that were “not covered in some kind of excrement.”

 

At one point, the deputy heard baking coming from a room which had the door closed. When the deputy opened the door, he found “a light-colored dog, of an unknown breed, which appeared to be malnourished and very frantic”, stated the affidavit. The deputy said that although the dog had food and water, the floor was completely covered with feces and so were the dog’s feet.

 

No one and no other animals were found at the home but the deputy said that it appeared that a child also lived there.

 

The deputy found a pay stub for BRIANNA AUSTIN which disclosed her current workplace so he called her for a further investigation. The affidavit shows that she is a groomer at Hands to Paws.

 

BRIANNA AUSTIN told the deputy that the dog who was in the bedroom was her brothers’ and the other five were hers. She also said that the living conditions of the dogs had been like that been like that for approximately two to three weeks.

 

The deputy reported that although the dogs had access to food and water, they “did not have access to use the restroom outside of the residence. This resulted in the defecation throughout the residence, which neither of them made any attempt to clean.”

 

It’s not explained in the affidavit who opened the front door of the home.

 

The animal shelter where the dogs were taken sent pictures showing that all of them had a “waxy feeling to their coat due to not being properly groomed”, stated the affidavit. The affidavit goes on to state that “The dogs also had fleas which didn't appear to have been treated. The dogs who had white in their coat, had stained yellow fur due to the urine.”

 

The siblings were arrested and charged with six counts of animal cruelty. Court records show they will be arraigned on October 17, 2024, at 9:15 a.m. before Judge Bruce E. Carney.

  

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the arrest affidavit obtained through a public search. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

 

 

Mugshots shared from the Citrus County Sheriff's Office





 
 
 

SAMANTHA LYN HEWARD and MELISSA DAWN HEWARD arrested – Animals found in inhumane living conditions

- Florida, USA -

 

The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office arrested 21-year-old SAMANTHA LYN HEWARD and her mother 42-year-old MELISSA DAWN HEWARD (both pictured).

 

In a press release, the sheriff's office said that on August 19, 2024, its Animal Control Unit removed several animals from a home on West Akazian Lane in Homosassa.

 

According to the sheriff’s office, “Animal Control has been aware of issues regarding loose dogs and allegations of neglect” at the aforementioned home, “with 38 calls for service.”

 

Officers have attempted to work with the mother to allow her time to get all the animals up to date on rabies vaccines and county licenses and provide medical care for some minor medical issues the dogs were experiencing.

 

Officers also repeatedly suggested she get rid of some of her dogs to make it easier to care for them.

 

In late February 2024, the mother was mandated to provide medical care for three dogs with skin issues and hair loss, and according to the sheriff’s office, she complied with that mandate.

 

Four months later, in June 2024, officers went back to the home for a follow-up visit. The officers reported that the conditions inside the residence had deteriorated slightly but did not warrant the removal of the animals. Once again, officers “encouraged” the mother to reduce the number of dogs in her care and she surrendered three puppies and five cats.

The woman did surrender the cats and the puppies and officers continued to monitor the well-being of the remaining animals and living conditions.

 

On several follow-up visits, however, officers did not find anybody home and therefore they couldn’t report back on the conditions of the Voiceless Victims.

 

On August 15, 2024, officers returned to the home following reports from neighbors who heard frequent dog fights. During that visit, the mother agreed to surrender two dogs, but admitted she had not complied with the mandate to get the remaining dogs the required rabies vaccinations.

The woman was advised to get veterinary care for the dogs who received minor injuries during the dog fights.

 

On August 19, 2024, when Animal Control Officers went back to the home, they were “permitted to access the residence for the first time since June 2024”, stated the release.

According to the sheriff's office, they “found that conditions inside the home were significantly worse than on any previous visit and immediately requested deputies to respond.”

 

Five cats and eleven dogs were removed after they were found to be living in “to inhumane and unhealthy living conditions.”  Several dogs and cats had minor medical issues and had not received proper care.

 

Deputies then learned that two minor children were also living in the home, so they alerted the Department of Children and Families (DCF) that responded to the scene and removed both juveniles.

 

Additionally, County Code Enforcement responded to the home being considered an unsafe structure.

 

On August 19, 2024, deputies arrested the mother and daughter and booked them into the Citrus County Jail.

The mother was charged with ten counts of animal cruelty associated with the eleven dogs living in the home.

The daughter, who “claimed ownership and care of the cats”, was charged with four counts of animal cruelty and one count of aggravated animal cruelty. 

 

All of the Voiceless Victims were surrendered to the county and are being medically evaluated and receiving the care they need and deserve.

 

Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast said: “𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙧𝙪𝙚𝙡𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙧 𝙣𝙚𝙜𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩. 𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨, 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙢 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚.”

 

On August 22, 2024, an update by the sheriff’s office advised that the mother is also facing two counts of child neglect, two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and violation of felony probation.

 

Those of you who are familiar with my stand on these kinds of situations, know that if it was up to me, I would just apply the “nip it in the bud” policy. I believe that all of the innocent souls should have been removed right away! They were failed by so many……

 

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release by the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

 

 

Mugshots shared from the Citrus County Sheriff's Office




 
 
 

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