Judge Rejects Plea Bargain In Cat Poisoning Trial

Judge Rejects Plea Bargain In Cat Poisoning Trial

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Story Published: Nov 10, 2005 at 11:02 AM PST

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 1:07 AM PST

By KOMO Staff & News Services

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TACOMA - A judge in Tacoma has rejected a plea bargain in the animal cruelty case of a woman accused of killing three cats that climbed into her yard.

Donna M. Clark of Spanaway went to court Thursday prepared to plead guilty to misdemeanor charges.

But with animal welfare demonstrators looking on, Pierce County Superior Court Judge Gary Steiner rejected the prosecutor's plea agreement and ordered Clark to go to trial next week on felony animal cruelty charges.

If convicted, she could face up to a year in jail.

The Pierce County sheriff's office say animal control officers found evidence last May that Clark might have poisoned the cats with chicken in a bowl of antifreeze. Demonstrators with the group Pasado's Safe Haven, say that causes a painful death.

The cats' owner, Joe Ashbaugh, told the judge he's seeking justice.

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