Felony charges sought in Elk animal seizure case

April 5, 2012

Among the large animals seized by SCRAPS in February at an Elk ranch were a couple of horses.

Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service (SCRAPS) has filed a request with the county prosecutor’s office to have 32 felony first-degree animal cruelty charges filed against Elk’s Michelle Stiner.
In addition, SCRAPS is seeking five misdemeanor second-degree animal cruelty and 86 confinement in an unsafe manner charges.
All the charges stem from a Feb. 23 raid on Stiner’s ranch on Bruce Road where SCRAPS officials, veterinarians and volunteers found nearly 100 animals in need of appropriate food and medical attention.
Many of the animals were adopted by caring homes.
“SCRAPS Animal Protection Officer Ashley Brown completed a very thorough investigation in this case and the charging request directly reflects the findings filed in her report,” said SCRAPS’s Animal Protection Operations Manager Nicole Montano.
“Dealing with over 95 individual animals and the charges relating to each of those animals takes a massive amount of work and the thorough report which is 287 pages demonstrates the time SCRAPS animal protection unit has dedicated to addressing this case of animal cruelty, Montano added.
Each charge of first-degree animal cruelty carries a penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Each misdemeanor charge carries a sentence of up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.