ALEDO, Ill. — The trial of a Sherrard woman accused of hoarding nearly 200 dogs in her home has begun.
Just after 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 27, the trial of Karen Plambeck began in Mercer County. Plambeck faces 12 charges of aggravated cruelty to animals. Each charge is a class four felony carrying a potential sentence of one to three years in prison.
Plambeck chose to have her case tried in a bench trial instead of a trial by jury. That means that the trial's judge will give out the final verdict instead of leaving the decision to the jury.
The charges in Plambeck's case date back to August 2022. Mercer County Animal Control received an animal welfare complaint regarding Plambeck's home, and a warranted search of her property recovered 198 dogs, according to the Mercer County Sheriff's Office.
Plambeck also faced a previous animal cruelty offense back in 2019, however, those charges were negotiated down to disorderly conduct. Plambeck served 24 months of probation and paid a $300 fine in that case.
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