Facing the Ghosts
by Monica Bretherton
Published Oct 19 2008
Jean Elledge appeared before Judge Ramsdell at the King County Courthouse at 2:45 yesterday for sentencing on the three counts of Animal Cruelty in the First Degree to which she entered a guilty plea in Superior Court.
I had never been to a sentencing hearing, and in case you haven’t either, the prosecutor makes a sentencing recommendation, and brings forth key witnesses to give the judge the essence of the case. The defense team is then given a chance to do the same, and if the defendant wishes, they too have an opportunity to speak. The judge decides how much of the sentencing recommendation to grant.
On the hallway bench outside the courtroom, the key players from the rescue team gathered.
Dr. Hannah Evergreen, the vet who was called in by King County, Jaime Taft and Bonnie Hammond of SAFE, which has been caring for the horses, and a number of volunteers also showed up. King County Animal Control Enforcement Coordinator Diana Toledo, an officer whose name I did not get, and Nancy McKenney, their communications specialist,were also present. Read the full article at Horsebytes.com
