In Washington County, Pennsylvania, April Sloane, the county’s Controller, has pleaded guilty to felony animal cruelty. She admitted to causing the death of her dog, Thor, by neglecting to provide food or water for several days before the dog passed away on November 27. As part of an agreement with prosecutors, Sloane will not face jail time but must resign from her position by the end of the month. The plea deal also includes serving five years of probation.
Although Sloane was originally set to go to trial this week, her defense attorney initiated discussions with prosecutors, leading to the plea agreement before the pre-trial conference. The guilty plea was for 3rd-degree felony aggravated animal cruelty.
Following an investigation by North Strabane Township police, it was determined that Thor died from severe emaciation, weighing only 20 pounds, which was less than half of the expected weight for the dog. Despite the presence of an emergency veterinary clinic near Sloane’s residence, she did not seek medical care for the animal.
Authorities discovered Thor’s remains in a garbage bag in Sloane’s garage during a search of her home in December. Sloane, a Republican elected in November 2021, was originally meant to hold her position as County Controller until 2025. Sloane and her lawyer declined to provide comments as they exited the court after the guilty plea.