By PHIL WRIGHT
A Hermiston woman convicted of animal neglect is again in jail on suspicion of 21 counts of the same offense.
The Umatilla County Sheriff's Office arrested Lauretta Jane Keene, 51, on Sunday for 20 counts of neglecting dogs and one count of neglecting a horse. She is in the Umatilla County Jail in Pendleton on bonds totaling $105,000 - $5,000 for each count.
In April, Keene pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree animal neglect, a Class B misdemeanor, and to four counts of first-degree animal neglect, a Class A misdemeanor. Those charges stemmed from animal neglect investigations in October 2007, and December 2008.
Sheriff John Trumbo said a new report led to an Sunday's investigation and arrest. Keene's past offenses dealt primarily with neglecting horses, while this time dogs were the victims.
"One dog had a broken back for a week," Trumbo said, "and we had to euthanize him."..." More
