Washington County Controller April Sloane has bail revoked and reset in animal cruelty case
WASHINGTON, Pa. (KDKA) -- The Washington County controller, who is facing animal cruelty charges after police said her dog died from severe emaciation, is out of jail after paying bail.
A judge revoked the bond of April Sloane on Wednesday morning. As part of Sloane's bond conditions, she wasn't allowed to own pets or have any access to animals. However, according to her mother, she was living with a man who owned a cat. The judge then set bail at $150,000, which Sloane posted, according to court records.
Sloane is currently facing animal cruelty charges after police searched her home in December and found a dog had died of starvation.
"I think she got what she deserved because she thinks she's above the law," Sherrie Sloane said. "But as a mother, this is not something you ever want to see for your children."
Washington County Commissioner Nick Sherman said that Deputy Controller Heather Shealter will assume the duties of controller effective immediately.
"Heather has been an outstanding employee of the Controller's Office for 21 years," Sherman's statement said. "I have full confidence in her ability to manage the day-to-day operations and oversight of the 12-employee office. We intend to place Ms. Sloane's salary in escrow while she is incarcerated. It's unfair to taxpayers to reward such actions with compensation."
Sherman also said he was pleased that the appropriate action was taken to revoke Sloane's bond and added that "her failure to follow the conditions of the bond for 'harboring' a cat is both abhorrent and shocking."
Sloane will go to trial in September.