Boone County dog breeder indicted on 29 felony animal abuse counts says they will not plead guilty ahead of trial
COLUMBIA MO.
A Boone County dog breeder charged with nearly 30 counts of felony animal abuse will face a Boone County judge Monday after being indicted by a grand jury on Friday.
Melissa Sanders, 26, of Columbia, was indicted on 29 counts of animal abuse. All of the counts are felonies. She was previously charged with three felony counts and 15 misdemeanor counts of animal abuse.
Sanders ran Magnum Opus German Shepherds a breeding, training and boarding facility in Boone Co. In November, law enforcement found several malnourished dogs and several dead dogs during a search warrant of Sander's property. Nearly a dozen dog skulls and countless other dog remains were also found in the search.
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 Co. jail on no bond.
During a hearing 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.
Russek said that the grand jury indictment reflects what he described as continued overcharging by the Boone County Prosecutor’s Office.
"The factual allegations against Ms. Sanders, if any of them pan out to be true, are that she left dogs at her business without proper care. To charge her with felonies involving torture is ludicrous," Russek said in a statement to ABC 17 News.
New court documents now allege that Sanders intentionally caused serious suffering to 29 dogs. Prosecutors say all the dog's suffering occurred while they were alive and was deliberately inflicted.
In the grand jury indictment 18 of the 29 dogs included were named. The dogs with names include: Mojo, Hildegard, Rhea, Arnold, City Girl, Romi, Reaper, Lucy, Venture, Hex, Eri, Scout, Double, Geronimo
Azurkek-Ragyogas Pityke, Narcissa, Schatzi, Espresso.
The 11 dogs without names also included were identified only by microchip numbers or shelter/ID codes.
Sanders hearing for her new charges is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Monday at the Boone Co. Courthouse.
