VENICE, CA - A former Tehachapi woman convicted of animal cruelty in 2008 is under investigation again, but this time in Los Angeles County. Neighbors suspect Cynthia Gudger is hoarding dozens of animals because of the stench coming from her apartment.
Gudger was released from Kern County custody in 2010. But, she is still on probation following her conviction on five animal cruelty charges. Now Gudger could be in more trouble if she is found to be in violation of that probation.
Pet owners in Venice are concerned about who and what is living behind the walls of a one-bedroom apartment.
"The smell was overwhelming. It smelled like animal urine, feces, dead animals, sick. I mean it just smelled like horror," said neighbor Nancy Hancock.
Hancock's neighbor is Cynthia Gudger, also known as Anita Gilbert, a former Kern County woman convicted of animal cruelty in 2008. Gudger's Tehachapi home was raided in July 2008. Animal control officers found upwards of 50 animals, some dead in the freezer. Now on probation, Gudger lives in a Venice apartment, and neighbors suspect she's hoarding animals again.
"The feces and urine smell is insane," Hancock said.
In 2009, doctors initially found Gudger not competent to stand trial. After a stay at Patton State Hospital, she was returned to Kern County where she plead 'no contest' to five counts of animal cruelty. Now five years later, Los Angeles Animal Services is looking into whether Gudger is at it again.
"They start getting a few too many animals. They can't say 'no' because they want to help and suddenly they're in over their head," Brenda Barnette of Los Angeles Animal Services said.
Gudger could have faced up to five years in prison. But in 2010, a new law reduced prison time. She was credited for the year and a half she spent in prison and was given probation.
No charges have been filed against Gudger in this new case, but she faces perjury charges for lying on a DMV application.
Michael Yraceburn with the Kern County District Attorney's office says at this point, Gudger is in Los Angeles' jurisdiction so it is up to them to decide if Gudger has violated her probation.
Gudger was released from Kern County custody in 2010. But, she is still on probation following her conviction on five animal cruelty charges. Now Gudger could be in more trouble if she is found to be in violation of that probation.
Pet owners in Venice are concerned about who and what is living behind the walls of a one-bedroom apartment.
"The smell was overwhelming. It smelled like animal urine, feces, dead animals, sick. I mean it just smelled like horror," said neighbor Nancy Hancock.
Hancock's neighbor is Cynthia Gudger, also known as Anita Gilbert, a former Kern County woman convicted of animal cruelty in 2008. Gudger's Tehachapi home was raided in July 2008. Animal control officers found upwards of 50 animals, some dead in the freezer. Now on probation, Gudger lives in a Venice apartment, and neighbors suspect she's hoarding animals again.
"The feces and urine smell is insane," Hancock said.
In 2009, doctors initially found Gudger not competent to stand trial. After a stay at Patton State Hospital, she was returned to Kern County where she plead 'no contest' to five counts of animal cruelty. Now five years later, Los Angeles Animal Services is looking into whether Gudger is at it again.
"They start getting a few too many animals. They can't say 'no' because they want to help and suddenly they're in over their head," Brenda Barnette of Los Angeles Animal Services said.
Gudger could have faced up to five years in prison. But in 2010, a new law reduced prison time. She was credited for the year and a half she spent in prison and was given probation.
No charges have been filed against Gudger in this new case, but she faces perjury charges for lying on a DMV application.
Michael Yraceburn with the Kern County District Attorney's office says at this point, Gudger is in Los Angeles' jurisdiction so it is up to them to decide if Gudger has violated her probation.