Updates Heard In Animal Cruelty Case

A status hearing was held in the case against Christie Harr, 43 of Monessen. She is facing several felony animal cruelty charges relating to charges of her hoarding and mistreating animals in properties that she owned in Donora and Monessen. The issues of concern from the defense were that the humane officer involved in the search in Monessen was not a certified Westmoreland County humane officer. Issues with the search warrants in both Washington County and Westmoreland County were too vague, and the search warrant that was served by the Humane Society of the United States was not authorized by the Westmoreland County District Attorney. Testimony was offered by Washington Area Humane Society and the Pennsylvania State Police who helped the Washington Area Humane Society conduct a search and seizure of the two properties owned by Harr. No decisions on the defense concerns were made. Washington County Judge Brandon Neuman scheduled another pretrial conference for May 6.