Woman in animal cruelty case denies allowing humane agents to enter her property

3/18/2010

PORT CLINTON — Several people, including Robin Vess who's accused of animal cruelty, took the stand in Ottawa County Municipal Court Thursday on a motion to decide whether horses should have been taken from her property.

Ms. Vess testified that she never gave permission for humane agents to enter her farm. She also said she was taking anti-depressants at the time dozens of emaciated horses were seized from her Carroll Township property.

The attorney for Ms. Vess, who is scheduled to stand trial on 42 counts of animal cruelty, filed a motion to suppress the evidence that was obtained from her farm on Jan. 29.

"Since the Plaintiff entered without a warrant, the seizure of evidence was unlawful and cannot be used against the defendant," Mark Davis, the attorney for Ms. Vess, wrote in a previous filing. "As such, the law requires suppression of all such evidence."

Municipal Court Judge Frederick Hany said he would render a decision at a later date.