Email
Print
Animal cruelty charges filed
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: March 18, 2009
Jennifer Lytton of Statesville was arrested at her home early Tuesday afternoon on a charge of assault on a child under 12.
Later Tuesday, Iredell County Animal Services charged her with one count of felony cruelty to animals and two counts of instigating cruelty to animals.
The investigation began when Lytton's 5-year-old daughter told a teacher at her school that her mother put a cigarette out on her nose, burning her nose, said Detective Sgt. Bill Hamby of the Iredell County Sheriff's Office Special Victim's Unit.
Hamby began an investigation and took out the warrant on Lytton. The sheriff's office warrant squad went out to look for Lytton Tuesday morning but she wasn't located.
On Tuesday afternoon, Warrant Squad Deputy Chris Snow went back out to the residence, and knocked on the door, but didn't get an answer. Neighbors told Snow he needed to check on the condition of some dogs in the back yard, Hamby said.
Snow checked on the dogs, and found one dog skeleton with a collar attached and two emaciated dogs in the yard, Hamby said. Snow called the Iredell County Animal Services and an officer came and took possession of the two dogs and the skeleton.
Hamby said a warrant was obtained to make sure no other animals were in the house, and after going into the house, found Lytton hiding in a closet. A bag of marijuana was also found, he said.
Lytton was arrested on the original assault warrant and then cited for the marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Email
Print
