Appeals Court Overturns Charges of Animal Cruelty
JULY 25, 1998
Oliver Mackson
NEW WINDSOR - Two people convicted last year of animal cruelty charges had their convictions overturned this week by an appellate court.
Susan Clark and Aaron Bloom were convicted of 34 counts of failure to provide sustenance to animals at the Village Pettery, a pet store in Vails Gate.
The convictions followed a trial in January 1997 in New Windsor Town Court. The local jury's verdict was reversed by the Appellate Term of state Supreme Court.
In a decision made public Monday, the appellate court found that documents filed by police and prosecutors didn't provide reasonable cause for authorities to believe Clark and Bloom had violated the state's Agriculture and Markets Law.
Clark and Bloom had been sentenced to three years' probation and an undetermined amount of restitution. "There were many legal issues involved in this appeal," said John Ingrassia, the Newburgh lawyer who handled the appeal. "We're very pleased with the outcome. We think the court reviewed the facts and record very carefully, and reached the right conclusion as a matter of law."
Orange County Chief Assistant Richard Ruggeri said he wasn't familiar with the decision and couldn't comment.
* Reprinted with permission of The Times Herald-Record
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
