MONROE - A motion hearing held Thursday on custody of the 46 dogs seized from a Green County home May 25, and the 17 puppies born while in custody, turned in favor of the prosecution, once again.
According to testimony, three of the four defendants objected to a Green County prosecution request to seize the dogs, and wanted to present a defense for their return. Most of the dogs are Great Danes.
Kathy Williams, 54; Donovan Williams, 45; and Allyson Williams, 24, all of Brodhead, did not present a defense during their civil case on June 21 or June 23, Kathy Williams said, because they were "bullied" into invoking their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent.
Green County Circuit Judge James Beer denied the Williams' request for a hearing, stating that the court never told them what to do, and that he only read them their rights.
"(The Williams) had their opportunity to present their findings and they did not," Beer said to the court.
Beer said he only advised them of their rights, and that he was not pressuring them into anything. After a hearing last week on the matter in which they were advised of their rights by Beer, none of the Williams' finished on the stand, or proceeded with their defense. The Williams' did not seek council during the case, and on the second day of testimony, received only minimal advice from an attorney, at Beer's urging.
Kathy Williams said that the attorney did not know details of their case, but advised them not to speak, due to possible criminal charges.
"I felt that it was firm that I should not speak," Williams said, adding that she felt that she was being bullied by the judge, and by attorneys unfamiliar with the case, into not giving a defense.
Green County's assistant corporation counsel, Jane Landretti, said that the other suspect in the case has cooperated with terms of the bond.
"First things first, Melissa Harrell did not appear here today," Landretti said in court. "She wanted to distance herself from the William's petition."
Landretti said that Harrel, 57, also of Brodhead, has posted $2,156 toward bond for some of her dogs, and surrendered her remaining dogs to Green County. But to receive the dogs she paid bond for, Harrel will have to petition the court, Landretti said.
Landretti said that the Williams' have until July 5 to pay their portion of the $10,329 cash bond, which is over $5,100, set at the June 23 civil hearing. She added that the Green County Humane Society has incurred over $17,400 in expenses for the Williams' and Harrel's dogs, as of June 30.
Kathy Williams said that they planned on appealing the verdict.
According to testimony, three of the four defendants objected to a Green County prosecution request to seize the dogs, and wanted to present a defense for their return. Most of the dogs are Great Danes.
Kathy Williams, 54; Donovan Williams, 45; and Allyson Williams, 24, all of Brodhead, did not present a defense during their civil case on June 21 or June 23, Kathy Williams said, because they were "bullied" into invoking their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent.
Green County Circuit Judge James Beer denied the Williams' request for a hearing, stating that the court never told them what to do, and that he only read them their rights.
"(The Williams) had their opportunity to present their findings and they did not," Beer said to the court.
Beer said he only advised them of their rights, and that he was not pressuring them into anything. After a hearing last week on the matter in which they were advised of their rights by Beer, none of the Williams' finished on the stand, or proceeded with their defense. The Williams' did not seek council during the case, and on the second day of testimony, received only minimal advice from an attorney, at Beer's urging.
Kathy Williams said that the attorney did not know details of their case, but advised them not to speak, due to possible criminal charges.
"I felt that it was firm that I should not speak," Williams said, adding that she felt that she was being bullied by the judge, and by attorneys unfamiliar with the case, into not giving a defense.
Green County's assistant corporation counsel, Jane Landretti, said that the other suspect in the case has cooperated with terms of the bond.
"First things first, Melissa Harrell did not appear here today," Landretti said in court. "She wanted to distance herself from the William's petition."
Landretti said that Harrel, 57, also of Brodhead, has posted $2,156 toward bond for some of her dogs, and surrendered her remaining dogs to Green County. But to receive the dogs she paid bond for, Harrel will have to petition the court, Landretti said.
Landretti said that the Williams' have until July 5 to pay their portion of the $10,329 cash bond, which is over $5,100, set at the June 23 civil hearing. She added that the Green County Humane Society has incurred over $17,400 in expenses for the Williams' and Harrel's dogs, as of June 30.
Kathy Williams said that they planned on appealing the verdict.