the conditions were a fucking nightmare! she should be not able to have pets for life!
PHOENIX (CBS 5) -
Prosecutors are moving to drop the animal cruelty charges filed in connection with the deaths of 21 dogs at the Green Acre dog boarding facility last June.
"After thoroughly reviewing the records and fairly considering the points raised in recent defense motions, the theory of the case as initially presented to the grand jury did not take into account the possibility that there were issues with an air conditioning unit," said Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery in a news release. "This could impact a grand jury's charging decision and how we might present a case to a trial jury," added.
Jesse and Maleisa Hughes, the owners of the facility, still face one count of fraud in connection with the case.
On June 21, more than 20 dead and injured dogs were found at Green Acre, a boarding facility in Gilbert.
The owners, who were not home at the time, said the dogs died of heat exhaustion after one of the animals chewed through an electrical cord cutting power to an air-conditioning unit.
The couple's daughter and son-in-law, Logan and Austin Flake, were in charge of the facility - and the dogs staying there - at the time. Austin Flake is the son of U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake.
Not convinced by the Hugheses' explanation of what happened, the owners of the dogs that died at Green Acre begged for an in-depth investigation and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Officer obliged.
Investigators said they found no proof that a chewed-up wire had cut power to a cooling unit, and a veterinarian said some of the dogs likely suffocated.
A grand jury indicted the Hugheses and the Flakes on numerous counts of animal abuse. All four of them pleaded not guilty at separate hearings.
If the charges are dismissed without prejudice, which is the county attorney's plan, they can be refiled in the future.
"The State will confer with investigators and experts to ensure any open questions about the events that occurred at the Green Acre facility are fully answered before making a decision on re-charging allegations of animal cruelty," Montgomery said.
Read more:
No animal cruelty charges in Green Acre Dog Boarding case - CBS 5 - KPHO