A Wrightstown woman charged with animal cruelty told officers she brought more than 40 animals from South Carolina to Oshkosh after animal shelters there refused to accept them.

Leesa P. Hollerup, 47, (DOB 5/2/57) was charged in Winnebago County Circuit Court (Case # 2004CM001063) with three counts of providing improper food and drink to confined animals, two counts of improper shelter for animals and one count of transporting animals in a cruel manner. Hollerup will make her initial appearance July 14.

Six dogs, one rabbit and 37 cats were taken from a home in the 1100 block of Harney Avenue that Hollerup was renting after she moved back to the area from South Carolina.

Hollerup who says she hoped to find good homes here for cats, dogs and a rabbit she brought back from South Carolina after animal sanctuaries and shelters there refused to accept them faces animal cruelty charges in the matter.

Police said they discovered six dogs tied up in the house's garage after responding to a neighbor's complaint. Officers said they also found a rabbit in a plastic container with no food or water in the garage before going into the basement and finding a makeshift cage containing more than 30 cats.

Hollerup allegedly told police she brought the animals to Wisconsin on an 18-hour drive in an open trailer attached to a van. Thunderstorms along the way soaked the cats and dogs, causing them to contract respiratory infections, according to the complaint.

The complaint said an officer asked her if she realized those conditions were unacceptable and Hollerup "stated she knew it was not ideal, but she just wanted to get them from South Carolina to Oshkosh."

Matt Miller, Oshkosh Area Humane Society's director of development, said the agency euthanized 22 of the cats, but two of the dogs and the rabbit have so far been moved into new homes.

Hollerup plead not guilty at her court appearance on 7/14/04.

If convicted on all counts, Hollerup could face up to 54 months in jail and up to $60,000 in fines.

Update 6/11/05:  A Winnebago County prosecutor is seeking to have himself and a defense lawyer removed from an Oshkosh animal abuse case only three days before trial, claiming both of the attorneys could become testifying witnesses.

According to the motion, husband and defense witness Clair S. Hollerup sought to give a statement to the district attorney's office. He later sought to see the final reports from his statement claiming a medically diagnosed memory problem. He further said he had previously given an oral statement to defense lawyer Robert Sisson.

When prosecutors sought details of the defense statement, Sisson said he never took one from Clair S. Hollerup. Sisson also disputed the claim of any memory problems based on information he had from Leesa Hollerup.

Clair S. Hollerup is listed to testify for the defense.

Balskus in the motion said the differing stories call Clair S. Hollerup's credibility into question, and that he and Sisson are the key witnesses.

Judge Thomas Gritton will decide whether the attorneys can remain on the case. A two-day trial remains on the schedule to begin June 13th.

Update 6/12/05:  Winnebago County prosecutors will not be able to use any evidence beyond police reports when trying a Wrightstown woman on six misdemeanor animal cruelty charges, a judge ruled.

Defense attorney Robert Sisson sought dismissal of the case because the district attorney's office still had not complied with a July court order to provide him with any and all evidence in the case.

Judge Thomas Gritton said he didn't have authority to dismiss the case, although he ruled that the district attorney's office didn't comply with the order.

Gritton ruled that prosecutors may not introduce any evidence that wasn't given to Sisson as of a Nov. 12 hearing. That limits evidence to police reports only. Prosecutors also cannot call any witnesses who aren't named in the police reports, he said.

Assistant Dist. Atty. Michael Balskus also sought removal of the attorneys based on what he considered contradictions in the statements of a scheduled defense witness. He and lawyer Robert Sisson would have been witnesses to the inconsistencies and therefore may have been needed to testify, he argued.

Judge Thomas Gritton rejected his argument. Gritton also denied Balskus time to make a transcript of a phone call between himself and a witness, and kept the trial on schedule for Monday. Balskus then asked for dismissal.

The case was dismissed without prejudice, meaning Balskus could refile charges.

Hollerup after the hearing said she expects that might happen, and if it does, she will take the case to trial.  "I'll fight it again," she said.

The Oshkosh Area Humane Society reported it had to euthanize 22 of the cats after taking custody of the animals in May. All six dogs and the rabbit were adopted.

Hollerup faces maximum penalties of 54 months in jail and $60,000 in fines if convicted on all six counts. Her case has been scheduled for a jury trial to begin on Feb. 28. The trial is expected to last for two days.

Reference:

The Oshkosh Northwestern

Post-Crescent Gazette

St. Paul Pioneer Press

WI Circuit Court records