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‘Noah’s Ark’ Animal Abuse Suspects Plead Guilty

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HUNTINGDON (May 22) — Tara Neutzler and Donald Schoenthal, the suspects involved in the Noah’s Ark Animal Abuse case, have both made a Best Interest Plea Agreement in the case.
They both pleaded guilty to one count each of Aggravated Animal Cruelty and three counts each of Animal Cruelty. The Aggravated Animal Cruelty charge carries a sentence of 1-2 years with a fine of up to $3,000 while the Animal Cruelty charges will carry a sentence of up to 11 months/29 days each with a fine of up to $2,500 for each offense. All counts will run consecutive to each other and a sentencing date has been set for July 22. All other counts have been dismissed according to the plea agreement.
Circuit Court has imposed a 10-year ban on the two owning or possessing animals. There will be zero restitution. The defendants will voluntarily dismiss appeals filed in the Court of Criminal Appeals. The state will withdraw a recent motion to revoke bond and will not refile it unless criminal conduct occurs after today’s date (May 22). Neutzler and Schoenthal will surrender any remaining animals in Carroll County and Putnam County.

The two were initially charged with over 300 charges including 2 counts of aggravated child abuse, neglect, or endangerment, 30 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and 122 counts of animal cruelty. The child abuse charges were later dropped for lack of evidence.
The charges were filed after a raid on an Atwood residence in, April 2018, during which an estimated 43 large and medium breed dogs, including puppies, 37 cats, including litters of newborn kittens, 17 rabbits, 10 geese, eight chickens, six ducks, six goats, five sheep, five chinchillas, four ferrets, and two alpacas were found without adequate food or water. Several dead animals were found around the property. Animals were found running loose and in cages around the property, inside a barn, and in the suspect’s house and garage. The animals were all extremely dirty and suffering from heavy infestations of internal and external parasites, broken bones, extreme matting, eye and ear infections, and respiratory issues. The Carroll County Sheriff’s Department with assistance from the Animal Rescue Corps and Redemption Road Rescue worked to assess the status of the animals and transport the living animals to rescue centers.
The case was scheduled to go to trial in Circuit Court in mid-July before arriving at the Best Interest Plea Agreement. Numerous motions were filed in the case including the reduction of the initial bond of $391,994, a large part of which was supposed to care for the rescued animals, down to $50,000.
This plea agreement comes on the heels of new charges against Nuetzler and Schoenthal in Putnam County, where sheriff’s deputies arrived at their residence to serve non-related warrants for Tenn Care Fraud and Felony Theft and found over 40 animals suffering from lack of drinkable water and food along with a range of medical issues. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department is still investigating the animal neglect charges.

Noah's Ark, Suspects, Guilty, Arrest, Animal