Animal cruelty charges refiled in Green Acre dog deaths

May 6, 2015, 10:28 AM | Updated: 4:38 pm

...

LISTEN: Monica Lindstrom - Green Acre Animal Cruelty Charges

PHOENIX — Animal cruelty charges were reinstated Wednesday against the owners of a Phoenix-area animal boarding facility where 21 dogs perished inside of a locked room last year.

Charges originally filed against owners Jesse and Maleisa Hughes were dropped in late December.

“The dismissal of the original charges provided us with a critical window of opportunity to review additional information that called into question the initial theory of the case,” Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery said in a release.

The Hugheses now face 28 charges of animal cruelty and one charge of fraud.

Authorities said the air conditioning unit in the room went out after one of the dogs managed to chew through the wall and then an electrical cord. The dogs were in the temporary care of Austin Flake, son of Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), and his wife, Logan, while the Hugheses were out of town.

“We have evidence that suggests that there were efforts to provide particular care, and the caretakers (the Flakes) were given specific direction on what to do,” Montgomery said at a press conference. “What they were directed to do fell far short of what the business owners held themselves out as what should be provided, and what should have been done.”

County Sheriff’s investigators said in July no evidence was found that a chewed-up electrical wire had cut power to the cooling unit.

The Hughses originally told their customers the dogs had run away. Maleisa told KTAR News’ Mac & Gaydos that was the “one mistake we’ve made” and later called the deaths a “freak accident.”

The dog owners filed a civil suit against the facility in September. They claimed they were promised a “Doggy Disneyland” during a tour and were shown a large yard where the dogs would be kept, not the room the dogs died in.

“No one was ever shown this back room the dogs were in,” attorney for the dog owners John Schill told KTAR News’ Bruce St. James & Pamela Hughes.

KTAR’s Bob McClay contributed to this report.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

A Paradise Valley, Arizona, estate known as Casa Oso Negro, which was originally listed for $20 mil...

Kevin Stone

Luxurious Paradise Valley estate originally listed for $20M will be sold at auction

An exquisite Paradise Valley estate that was originally listed for $20 million will be sold at auction this month.

6 hours ago

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)...

Brandon Gray

Mayor Gallego, city council votes to leave Phoenix’s Colorado River entitlement in Lake Mead

Mayor Kate Gallego and the Phoenix City Council unanimously voted Wednesday to leave up to 150,000 acre-feet of the city's Colorado River entitlement in Lake Mead over the next three years.

6 hours ago

...

Brandon Gray

Man arrested in ‘The Zone’ after refusing to leave tent, threatening workers, Phoenix police say

A man was arrested Wednesday after an incident involving homeless outreach workers in "The Zone" homeless encampment in downtown Phoenix.

6 hours ago

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)...

KTAR.com

Phoenix City Council vote passes to support Suns, Mercury All-Star bids

The Phoenix City Council unanimously voted Wednesday in favor of supporting the bids from the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury to host future All-Star games.

6 hours ago

(Pexels Photo)...

KTAR.com

Arizona man sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexual abuse of a minor

An Arizona man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexual abuse of a minor, authorities said Tuesday.

1 day ago

Sean Bickings (Family Photo via city of Tempe)...

Associated Press

Family of man who drowned last year in Tempe Town Lake files wrongful death lawsuit

The family of a man who drowned in Tempe Town Lake a year ago filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city Wednesday, noting that its police department doesn't have a policy requiring officers to go into the water to save someone.

1 day ago

Sponsored Articles

...

SANDERSON FORD

Thank you to Al McCoy for 51 years as voice of the Phoenix Suns

Sanderson Ford wants to share its thanks to Al McCoy for the impact he made in the Valley for more than a half-decade.

...

OCD & Anxiety Treatment Center

How to identify the symptoms of 3 common anxiety disorders

Living with an anxiety disorder can be debilitating and cause significant stress for those who suffer from the condition.

(Photo: OCD & Anxiety Treatment Center)...

OCD & Anxiety Treatment Center

Here’s what you need to know about OCD and where to find help

It's fair to say that most people know what obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders generally are, but there's a lot more information than meets the eye about a mental health diagnosis that affects about one in every 100 adults in the United States.

Animal cruelty charges refiled in Green Acre dog deaths