GALESBURG — .The Abingdon woman accused of knowingly starving or failing to provide sufficient food for a number of cats and dogs, many of which later died, was in Knox County Circuit Court on Friday.
Rebecca Johnson-Geier, 28, is charged with cruelty to animals, two counts of endangering the health of a child, all Class A misdemeanors, as well as violation of animal owner’s care duties, a Class B misdemeanor. The charges stem from the early July discovery and removal of no fewer than 12 dead dogs and cats from the 606 W. Monmouth St. home Johnson-Geier lives in with her husband and two children. The state alleges that Johnson-Geier knowingly starved the animals while putting her kids at risk.
On Friday, Judge Dwayne Morrison appointed Geier-Johnson a public defender in the misdemeanor case.
Johnson-Geier told Morrison her only source of income was unemployment.
“My husband works but he’s keeping all his money for himself,” she said of Michael Geier, 28, who is also charged in the case.
Johnson-Geier declined comment following Friday’s court appearance.
Police discovered the condition of the home after a 911 domestic violence call placed by Johnson-Geier.
Geier is charged with one count of domestic violence, as well as interference with a domestic violence report, on top of animal cruelty and child endangerment charges parallel to Johnson-Geier’s.
On July 9, during Geier’s bond hearing in court, Johnson-Geier indicated to the judge that she’d like the domestic violence charge dismissed. Later that day Johnson-Geier bailed Geier out of jail.
The couple missed their joint first appearance July 21 in their ordinance violation case, also related to the home’s reported condition.
Johnson-Geier later told a reporter they were told they didn’t have to attend. Nonetheless, a summons was issued asking them to return to court for the ordinance case. On Sept. 1 at 11 a.m., the couple will face charges of failure to maintain property, failure to dispose of dead animals, offensive condition of home related to confined animals, and improper maintenance of animals, as well as an additional count of failure to appear.
Meanwhile, Geier’s first appearance in the misdemeanor case is at 11 a.m. Aug. 14 with public defender Daniel O’Brien. Johnson-Geier will make her first appearance with counsel — public defender James Harrell — at 11 a.m. Sept. 21.
If found guilty of the Class A misdemeanors, Johnson-Geier and Geier face up to a year in jail and $2,500 in fines. A Class B misdemeanor carries a penalty of no more than 6 months jail-time and fines of up to $1,500.
http://www.galesburg.com/news/x1678042978/Abingdon-animal-cruelty-suspect-in-court
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