Trial date set for former Pet bath condominium proprietor

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Giuseppe Ricapito

The Union Democrat

An Angels Camp lady accused of multiple counts of animal cruelty and grand theft was issued a brand new trial date of Dec. 5 Monday morning at the Calaveras County advanced courtroom.

Vonna Faye Hughes, former owner of the now-closed Pet bath condo, a dog-grooming and boarding condo on main highway in Angels Camp, briefly seemed in court Monday morning together with her attorney Ken Foley of San Andreas to ascertain the new trial date.

Her normal trial date of Sept. 12 turned into vacated because of Foley's duty to a 4-week homicide trial in Amador County, set to start Tuesday morning.

"anything the DA desires. i was the one that bumped it," Foley observed to judge Gary Hahn.

Hughes is charged with three counts of legal animal cruelty, two counts of legal grand theft, and two counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty involving her medication of Casper, Coco and Cici, three pitbulls boarded at her facility by using a Butte hearth survivor in late June 2017.

Hughes, who became arrested on July 8, 2017, has denied the expenses towards her.

owner of the three pitbulls, Steve Mendoza, changed into also current on the listening to with about a half-dozen supporters in matching black t-shirts that examine "Justice for Cici."

Cici's body turned into discovered in a bloody trash bag at a Utica vigour Authority property on Crestview force in Murphys in early July, a couple of month in spite of everything three canine disappeared from the Pet bathtub house. Mendoza become reunited with Casper and Coco at Calaveras County Animal features in San Andreas after they had been discovered near Pennsylvania Gulch street in Murphys.

"I'm glad that we're ultimately going to jury trial," he stated. "I'm very chuffed, it's a large reduction coming off of my shoulder."

Mendoza previously bemoaned last week's postponement of the trial, and cited it had been over a 12 months on account that Cici become found out lifeless.

"I simply don't desire to any extent further interruptions," he said.

in accordance with a prosecution witness checklist filed with the Calaveras County superior courtroom, 24 people can be called to testify within the trial, including Mendoza and his spouse, Natalie. further witnesses included Angels Camp Chief of Police Todd Fordahl, who found what turned into presumed to be Cici's physique on a call for service, and Patti guy, a friend of Hughes who reportedly threatened Mendoza over the cell related to his payments to the Pet bathtub condominium.

guy changed into initially identified as a suspect on three counts of killing, maiming or abusing animals, three counts of stealing animals, and one count of crook conspiracy, but became certainly not arrested.

Hughes' legal animal cruelty prices pertain to her depriving all three canines of "necessary sustenance and take care of" whereas they have been in her care in late June to early July in 2017.

The three canines disappeared from the Pet bathtub house in early July, and Casper and Coco have been observed by using Calaveras County Animal features in Murphys through the conclusion of that month. a number of days after the Casper and Coco were located, Cici's physique changed into found within the trash bag in Murphys.

Hughes turned into charged with grand theft after she billed Mendoza $1,000 and $3,800, respectively, for 2 incidents involving his canines allegedly attacking other canine whereas in her care.

Hughes is accused of charging Mendoza $1,000 for a $750 invoice for the medication of Fred, a dog she referred to become attacked with the aid of Mendoza's canines, and for charging Mendoza $3,800 for a $2,800 bill for the remedy of Sam, a further dog allegedly attacked by Mendoza's canine.

Hughes' fees of misdemeanor animal cruelty were concerning an try to heal a gash Fred sustained in the battle with tremendous glue, and for failing to deliver applicable care for Sam. Deputy District attorney Jeff Stone noted the trial became prone to ultimate six days and would be held in branch three of the Calaveras County superior court docket.

Contact Giuseppe Ricapito at (209) 588-4526 or gricapito@uniondemocrat.com . comply with him on Twitter @gsepinsonora.

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