ROODHOUSE WOMAN SENTENCED TO PROBATION IN PUPPY DEATH CASE

ROODHOUSE — A 40-year-old Roodhouse woman will serve probation after pleading guilty in an animal cruelty case stemming from the death of a puppy last fall.

Rebecca Newingham was originally charged November 6 with one count of felony aggravated cruelty to animals and one count of misdemeanor cruelty to animals. The felony charge carried a potential sentence of one to three years in prison and fines up to $25,000, while the misdemeanor charge was punishable by up to one year in jail and fines up to $2,500.

According to previous reports, Roodhouse police were contacted in late October about a dog in need of veterinary care for wounds to its jaw and eye area. Roodhouse Police Chief Kyle Robison said that when veterinary care was not provided, the city’s animal control officer alerted law enforcement. Officers later discovered the puppy deceased inside a trash can.

Newingham appeared Monday before Greene County Circuit Judge Zachary Schmidt and entered an open guilty plea to the Class A misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals. She was sentenced to 18 months of probation.

As part of a negotiated plea agreement, the Class 4 felony charge of aggravated cruelty to animals was dismissed.

Greene County State’s Attorney Craig Grummel said he takes allegations of animal cruelty seriously and noted a pattern in recent cases involving untreated or undertreated mental health conditions. Grummel said his goal is both to protect animals from future harm and to address underlying issues that contribute to such offenses.