Woman pleads not guilty to animal cruelty

A Lincoln County woman on Monday in district court pleaded not guilty to animal cruelty charges brought against her last week.

Cathie Warren pleaded not guilty to 17 charges of animal cruelty, including four felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and two counts of cruelty to animals, one a felony and the other a misdemeanor, along with 11 alternative charges of cruelty to animals, second or subsequent offense.

Warren was charged on Aug. 22, about three weeks after Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies and Animal Control staff removed 119 animals from her home just outside Libby city limits. The animals removed included 53 dogs and six donkeys, while Warren voluntarily allowed the county to remove 60 parakeets as well.

Warren was taken into custody at Lincoln County jail on Aug. 23 and is currently being held on $50,000 bond. Warren’s defense attorney Ryan Peabody requested that Warren be released on her own recognizance, citing her lack of a criminal record doesn’t pose a threat to the public.

District Judge James Wheelis denied the motion after Lincoln County Attorney Jeff Zwang said the state has had trouble pinpointing Warren’s identity (her married name, Cathie Odegaard, is also listed on the case). Zwang also said Warren posed a flight risk with several contacts around the United States through her dog breeding network. Wheelis left her bond set at $50,000 and set her omnibus hearing for one month from Monday’s arraignment.

Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 293-4124 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com.