Boone County dog breeder’s arraignment set for Monday morning
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Boone County dog breeder is set to face a judge Monday morning after she was indicted by a grand jury.
Melissa Sanders, 26, is facing 29 counts of felony animal abuse after she was previously charged with three felonies and 15 misdemeanor counts of animal abuse. Sanders will be in the Boone County Courthouse at 9:30 a.m. Monday in front of Judge Joshua Devine for her arraignment.
Sanders' new attorney, Andrew Russek of Combs Waterkotte law firm, tells ABC 17 News that Sanders will enter a plea of not guilty on the new charges. He also said he plans to request an evidentiary hearing on their continued request for bond. Sanders remains in the Phelps County jail on no bond.
During a hearing last Thursday, Judge Kayla Jackson-Williams said she would consider setting bond and ordered a detention study for Sanders. A hearing on that matter is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Dec. 30.
Sanders ran a Magnum Opus German Shepherds breeding, training and boarding facility in Boone County. In November, law enforcement found several malnourished dogs and several dead dogs during a search warrant of Sanders's property. Nearly a dozen dog skulls and countless other dog remains were also found in the search.
