Over the objection of prosecutors, an Antelope Valley judge granted bail Monday for a woman accused of keeping hundreds of animals in squalid conditions, according to the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office.
Christine De Anda, 57, turned herself in Monday, following a Sept. 18 announcement from the DA’s Office that she would face 12 felony counts of cruelty to an animal, two felony counts of grand theft of labor and 21 misdemeanor counts, including three misdemeanor counts of cruelty to an animal.
A spokeswoman for the DA’s Office said De Anda was released on her own recognizance, with no bail amount given. De Anda is facing a maximum penalty of more than two decades in prison if convicted on all charges, according to the criminal complaint.
An estimated 250 dogs and 66 cats were confiscated from what District Attorney Nathan Hochman called a “purported rescue.” The animals were taken following a March 20 raid on De Anda’s Lake Hughes property where she operated Rock N Paws.
“During the operation officers discovered animals confined in crates fouled with excrement, along with emaciated, ill and injured animals who were not receiving necessary medical treatment and care,” according to a statement from the Department of Animal Care and Control, which referred to the operation as “the largest domestic animal seizure in DACC’s history.”
L.A. County 5th District Supervisor Kathryn Barger called the situation “horrifying and unacceptable,” in a news release following the DA’s announcement, adding that, “animal cruelty has no place in our communities.”
The court did impose a half-dozen conditions of release for De Anda:
- The defendant shall not possess, acquire, house, foster, transport, breed, transfer, rescue, supervise, control or care for any animal, directly or through another person, except as authorized by the court or necessary to comply with a governmental order concerning the surrender or lawful disposition of an animal.
- The defendant shall not operate, work or volunteer for, advise, fundraise for, or receive funds on behalf of any animal-related rescue, shelter, kennel, nonprofit, business, or other enterprise. This condition does not prohibit bona fide fundraising exclusively for attorney fees or lawful defense costs, provided that each solicitation clearly states that purpose and does not represent or imply that a contribution will benefit any animal or animal-related organization.
- The defendant shall disclose to the court, all residences, properties and storage locations she owns, controls or regularly occupies, and shall disclose all animal-related entities, fundraising platforms, and social-media accounts she owns, controls, or uses.
- The defendant shall stay away from 46921 266th St. W., Lake Hughes, unless authorized in advance by the court and accompanied by Animal Care and Control or law enforcement (with exception for any other court order permitting public works work on the property).
- The defendant shall have no direct or indirect contact with former Rock N Pawz employees or any witness identified to her in writing, except through counsel for lawful case preparation, and shall not threaten, harass, influence, intimidate, or retaliate against any witness.
- The defendant shall permit compliance inspections by law enforcement or Animal Care and Control, on reasonable notice, of any residence, business premises, storage location, or other property she owns or controls. Nothing in this condition authorizes a search of an electronic device or account absent consent, a warrant, or other lawful authority.
De Anda’s next court date is a forfeiture hearing next month.
A preliminary hearing setting was also scheduled for Nov. 2, also in the Antelope Valley Courthouse.
