St Laurent Pleads Guilty To Animal Abuse
A alleged animal abuser, who openly told people her defense in the case was continually adjourning the matter so the “Court would forget about it”, has plead guilty to a cruelty to animals charge.
Robyn Ashley St Laurent was convicted on a provincial charge of cruelty to animals. St Laurent had been charged with Cruelty to Animals under the criminal code of Canada but it and other charges including failure to attend court were stayed by Crown Prosecutor Rob Parker.
St Laurent will have to pay a $1,000 fine as part of a joint submission (plea bargain) as well as for five years not own any animals, reside in any household which has animals or be in control of any animals.
During the five years of her provincial prohibition of owning, being in control of or residing in a home which has animals St Laurent must also inform Saskatchewan animal protection authorities of any address change and allow animal protection officers to search her dwelling in daylight hours without a warrant.
St Laurent, who failed to appear in court, plead guilty to the provincial animal abuse charge through her Regina Legal Lawyer Adam Fritzler.
Robyn St Laurent - photo credit Facebook
Fritzler stated that “we are in a position to resolving that if Mr (Rob) Parker is in a position to speak to that today.”
Speaking to the Court Parker said the charges against St Laurent dated back to July 15, 2019 when animal protection officers, accompanied by members of the Moose Jaw Police Service, entered St Laurent’s residence where they found 15 cats and two dogs in distress.
St Laurent had not been providing the animals with proper food and water and additionally the house was messy with feces and urine strewn throughout it. The levels of ammonia in the house (from the breakdown of fecal and urine matter, was unsafe for both human and animal alike, Parker said.
“The ammonia reading was high,”: Parker told Judge Brian Hendrickson.
After the initial 15 cats and two dogs were removed St Laurent was found on more than one occasion to be in possession of cats which were suffering due to distress (lack of proper food and water) and unsanitary conditions - feces and urine throughout the house and high levels of ammonia.
On the August 26, 2019 two cats were found in St Laurent’s residence suffering in distress.
Again on September 5, 2019 two cats were found in distress in St Laurent’s residence.
And on October 24, 2019 St Laurent was found to have two cats without proper food and water and high levels of ammonia in the dwelling due to feces and urine throughout the home.
“There was high levels of ammonia….there was no food and water (for the cats),” Parker told the Court.
Speaking about the fine Parker admitted it was less than what could be expected given the gravity of the case but that he and animal control officers were more concerned about the five year order to help ensure St Laurent was not around any animals.
Normally the fine would be much higher but animal control officers were more concerned about the five year order in the case, he said.
Defense attorney Fritzler said at the present time his client is homeless and living in her car.
Fritzler said his client felt remorse and “is accepting responsibility for her actions.”
As part of the deal worked out between the Crown and Defence four additional charges were stayed including violation of section 451.1 (1) (a) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
In accepting the joint submission Judge Hendrickson accepted the dire financial conditions St Laurent is under and gave her until September 10th to pay the fine. He waived the Victims Surcharge given St Laurent’s financial position.
St Laurent’s co-accused Dylan Gellert is facing similar charges as St Laurent plus additional charges on unrelated matters - he is to be considered innocent until proven guilty in court.