Troy couple to head to trial for animal hoarding case
TROY, N.Y. >> The Troy couple accused of hoarding several animals in their Campbell Avenue home will go to trial.
Court officials said Michelle and David Hempstead appeared in front of the Hon. Kathleen Leahey Robichaud in Troy City Court Thursday morning and stand accused of multiple counts of animal cruelty under New York State Agriculture and Markets Law.
The Troy Police Department said they recently received a tip via the online tip system stating that there was a house on Campbell Avenue in Troy that contained a large number of animals that were not being cared for.
An investigation was initiated and officers and detectives executed a search at 92 Campbell Ave. in December.
The officers said that they were met with a very foul stench upon entering the home and found a very large quantity of animals in the house.
Police said that many of the animals were in cages and some were roaming throughout the house. In De-
cember, police also said that the house was also deemed uninhabitable by the Troy Department of Code Enforcement and is locked down.
Police charged the couple with 17 counts of injuring an animal of the agricultural and markets Law.
Matthew Hauf, Rensselaer County Chief ADA, stated that the people will not extend any negotiated plea offers to the Hempsteads in this case and stand ready for trial.
Defense counsel for the Hempsteads requested an
adjournment to file Discovery Demands.
The matter was adjourned until April 4, 2019 for the defense attorneys to file their papers.
Officials said they are appreciative of the efforts of the Troy Animal Control Officer, the Hudson Mohawk Humane Society and all those that assisted in the preparation and handling of this case.
Last month, police noted that the conditions of many of the animals have improved and many have also been adopted.