Luken pleads not guilty in court
By Kat Russell, Reporter
The Paducah Sun
April 24, 2015
http://www.paducahsun.com/news/local/042415_PS_Luken_Arraignment
As McCracken District Judge Chris Hollowell looked over pages listing nearly 200 counts of second-degree animal cruelty filed against Reidland resident Deborah Luken at her arraignment Thursday, he did a double take.
"How many counts do we have here?" he asked. Someone on his staff answered "196 your honor."
This was Luken's first appearance in court since she was cited by the McCracken County Sheriff's Department. She stood quietly at the podium while defense attorney David Bundrick entered a plea of not guilty on her behalf.
The case against Luken, 54, was opened after the sheriff's department and animal control seized seven chinchillas, three rats, six ducks, 86 rabbits, 11 exotic birds and 83 dogs on March 25 from her Merrydale Drive home. According to animal control officer Chryss George, someone left an anonymous tip on her vehicle earlier that month prompting the agency to investigate.
Cathy Coleman, director of animal control, said officers visited the house and found the conditions were unsanitary, with feces and urine coating the floors, crates and some of the animals. Additionally, all of the animals were underweight and suffered from minor injuries due to neglect, according to the sheriff's department. Coleman said Luken was given one week to make improvements, which was later extended by three days, but conditions had not improved and the agency intervened.
The animals were taken and distributed among numerous people who volunteered as fosters as well as the McCracken County Animal Shelter and a local animal day care business. Since then, Coleman said, "A few of the animals have died and a few are in critical condition." Coleman was unable to give an exact count of those animals. However, she said, most of the animals are responding well to their new foster environments.
"They are being given the care and medical attention they need," she said.
As for Luken, Coleman said animal control is monitoring the situation and that the woman has been "fully cooperative."
"We are trying to keep abreast of the situation," Coleman said. "As far as direct home visits we have not made any, but we have seen that the home is being worked on."
Luken was allowed to keep two dogs, Coleman said, although one had to be euthanized as it was in extremely poor condition.
Coleman said in cases of animal hoarding, studies have shown the person has a much better chance of recovery if allowed to keep one animal.
Luken will next appear in court at 9 a.m. on May 7 for a continued first appearance. According to the district clerk's office, if a plea arrangement cannot be made by that time, a jury trial will be set.
Contact Kat Russell, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.
"How many counts do we have here?" he asked. Someone on his staff answered "196 your honor."
This was Luken's first appearance in court since she was cited by the McCracken County Sheriff's Department. She stood quietly at the podium while defense attorney David Bundrick entered a plea of not guilty on her behalf.
The case against Luken, 54, was opened after the sheriff's department and animal control seized seven chinchillas, three rats, six ducks, 86 rabbits, 11 exotic birds and 83 dogs on March 25 from her Merrydale Drive home. According to animal control officer Chryss George, someone left an anonymous tip on her vehicle earlier that month prompting the agency to investigate.
Cathy Coleman, director of animal control, said officers visited the house and found the conditions were unsanitary, with feces and urine coating the floors, crates and some of the animals. Additionally, all of the animals were underweight and suffered from minor injuries due to neglect, according to the sheriff's department. Coleman said Luken was given one week to make improvements, which was later extended by three days, but conditions had not improved and the agency intervened.
The animals were taken and distributed among numerous people who volunteered as fosters as well as the McCracken County Animal Shelter and a local animal day care business. Since then, Coleman said, "A few of the animals have died and a few are in critical condition." Coleman was unable to give an exact count of those animals. However, she said, most of the animals are responding well to their new foster environments.
"They are being given the care and medical attention they need," she said.
As for Luken, Coleman said animal control is monitoring the situation and that the woman has been "fully cooperative."
"We are trying to keep abreast of the situation," Coleman said. "As far as direct home visits we have not made any, but we have seen that the home is being worked on."
Luken was allowed to keep two dogs, Coleman said, although one had to be euthanized as it was in extremely poor condition.
Coleman said in cases of animal hoarding, studies have shown the person has a much better chance of recovery if allowed to keep one animal.
Luken will next appear in court at 9 a.m. on May 7 for a continued first appearance. According to the district clerk's office, if a plea arrangement cannot be made by that time, a jury trial will be set.
Contact Kat Russell, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.
