Two Columbia women accused of hoarding more than 100 diseased and dead cats won?t face jail time.
Ayten Icgoren entered a plea agreement in Howard County District Court on Friday that would allow her to technically maintain her innocence on the 153 counts for animal cruelty and interfering with animal-control officers.
Instead, Icgoren faces supervised probation. She must also undergo a psychological evaluation before her sentencing hearing in May.
Icgoren said her lawyer, Joseph Murtha, “says it?s the right thing to do, although I?m a stubborn person, and I like fighting.” She denies her cats were treated poorly.
The case against her daughter, Nese Icgoren, who faced 225 counts of animal cruelty and neglect, was shelved for a year under the condition that she obey the law and not own any animals.
The conditions of Ayten Icgoren?s probation will be decided at her May 8 sentencing, when she will have a chance to address the court.
“I want the judge to know the truth,” she said.
In August, Howard County animal-control officers removed 58 sick cats from the house. Of them, 50 were euthanized, according to charging documents.
Of the eight still alive, five later died. The three remaining cats have been kept in the county shelter.
Officers also removed 17 carcasses, leaving behind badly decomposed cat remains.
The Icgorens? Swan Point Way neighbors have complained of a lingering stench from the home and are trying to get the Icgorens to more thoroughly clean the house.
“We?re just so frustrated, and we want the situation resolved,” said Nadia Wasserman, adding she figured the Icgorens wouldn?t serve jail time.
Wasserman and her husband, Joe, said they hope the probation includes unannounced inspections to ensure the Icgorens do not own cats in the future.
