PHOENIX – The Grand Jurors of Maricopa County have handed down an indictment charging Jesse Todd Hughes, Maleisa Maurine Hughes, Austin Lane Flake and Logan Flake with multiple felony and misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals in connection with the June, 2014 deaths of 21 dogs and the injury of four others at Green Acre Dog Boarding in Gilbert, AZ. Jesse and Malesia Hughes also face one felony count each of fraudulent schemes and artifices.
“Today’s indictment is the result of a thorough review of the extensive investigation into this incident and a decision to seek charges based on objective facts,” said Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery. “We now look forward to the next step in seeing that justice is served in this case,” he added.
On June 21, 2014, more than 20 dead and injured dogs were discovered at Green Acre Dog Boarding near Greenfield and Queen Creek Roads in Gilbert. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation and submitted their findings to the County Attorney’s Office on August 27, 2014.
The indictment charges Jesse and Maleisa Hughes with 22 felony counts and 7 misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals, and one felony count of fraudulent schemes and artifices. Austin and Logan Flake are each charged with 21 felony counts and 7 misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals. The four defendants have been summoned to appear to answer the charges at a hearing on October 23, 2014. They are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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