Adjudication hearing date set for Warren

Cathie Iris Warren is refuting allegations she violated the terms of probation by once again raising and caring for animals.

A jury found Warren, also known as Cathie Iris Odegaard, guilty of three counts of aggravated animal cruelty, four felony counts of cruelty to animals and a single misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals, second or subsequent offense, in 2017. As part of her sentence, Warren was barred from owning animals.

She also forfeited animals seized by local authorities after they searched her home and kennel in 2016.

But, according to court documents, Warren had begun collecting animals again, despite warnings from her probation officer. Earlier this month, prosecutors filed a petition to revoke her suspended sentence.

Warren appeared in Lincoln County District Court on March 22 from the county lockup via teleconference technology. As Judge Matthew Cuffe read off the allegations, Warren attempt to object.

“I recognize you may disagree with some of the information, but that’s for another day,” Cuffe told her.

According to court documents and past news articles, Warren has long maintained her innocence. Probation Officer Steve Watson described her as becoming increasingly “irrational” regarding her right to own and raise animals.

During a March 9 search of her home, authorities allegedly found evidence of Warren breeding and caring for animals on the property. According to Watson’s account, several of the goats on her property were newborns. They also found chicken carcasses — the property was home to free-range chickens — littering the area where the goats were kept, court documents said.

Lastly, they found Warren in possession of what she claimed as a service dog.

“She made it clear that I am violating her constitutional rights by not allowing her to have a service dog,” wrote Watson.

Watson said that it appeared clear to him that Warren also was feeding rabbits and cats that wandered through the property.

“[Warren] told me it is her constitutional right to raise and have animals,” Watson wrote. “[Warren] has been resistant in the past, but her current behavior is that she will no longer comply with probation.”

Deputy County Attorney Jeffrey Zwang told Cuffe he expected an adjudication hearing would take several hours. Cuffe agreed to set aside a half-day for the proceedings.

Jessica Polan, Warren’s defense attorney, asked for at least a month to prepare. Zwang implored Cuffe to arrange the hearing as quickly as possible, citing the cost of caring for Warren’s alleged animals.

“There are now a number of animals the state has to arrange care for again because of this matter,” Zwang said.

Cuffe set April 20 as the date of the hearing.