A Southern California woman accused of operating a fraudulent animal rescue and leaving numerous dogs to suffer in a hot, feces-strewn vehicle was released without paying bail after a judge declined prosecutors’ request to keep her in custody.
Priscilla Martin, 33, who is homeless, entered not guilty pleas Thursday to three felony counts of animal cruelty by a caretaker, 11 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty by a caretaker, and one misdemeanor count of disposing of a dead animal’s carcass in connection with the disturbing Newport Beach case.
If she is found guilty on every charge, Martin could face up to 15 years and 10 months in state prison.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office sharply opposed her release, urging the court to set bail at $50,000 and citing the seriousness of the alleged animal cruelty.
Orange County Superior Court Commissioner Eric Isaac, however, ordered Martin released on her own recognizance, meaning she did not have to post bail.
As part of the terms of her release, Martin is barred from having access to any animals while the criminal case remains pending.
The investigation began on the Fourth of July, when Newport Beach police were alerted to several dogs trapped inside a vehicle parked under the scorching sun.
When officers arrived, they discovered 18 dogs in the vehicle, including 14 held in wire crates and plastic carriers amid conditions prosecutors described as filthy.
The dogs had no access to water, were covered in feces and several were suffering from heat distress.
Thirteen of the 14 dogs seized by Newport Beach Animal Control were puppies suffering from intestinal parasites.
Two six-week-old Golden Retriever puppies were rescued in critical condition because of severe untreated parasite infestations.
One of the puppies had to be euthanized because of the severity of its condition, while the other is recovering.
The investigation took another grim turn on July 13 when Irvine police recovered the body of a dead dog whose microchip was registered to Martin, prosecutors said.
Surveillance video allegedly showed Martin pulling into a parking lot, dragging the dog’s body from her vehicle and abandoning it in nearby bushes.
A necropsy determined the dog died of heat stroke, consistent with being left inside a hot vehicle.
Authorities encountered Martin again on July 22 in Costa Mesa, where prosecutors say she was found with 14 more dogs inside her vehicle.
She was arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty, and the dogs were removed and are undergoing health evaluations.
Investigators also allege Martin promoted herself on social media as operating a 501(c)(3) nonprofit rescue called K9 Paws Rescue, Inc., also known as Canine Paws Rescue, Inc.
But prosecutors said the California Attorney General’s Registry of Charities and Fundraisers has no record of either organization, despite registration being required to solicit charitable donations in the state.
“Every living being deserves a safe home with the basic necessities of life,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement
“Despite our compassion for the homeless, it does not excuse subjecting defenseless animals to inhumane conditions. The abuse of animals will never be tolerated, and anyone who engages in violence or neglect against animals will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
