Seized animals return to Oxford woman following guilty plea, restitution

OXFORD – An Oxford woman has pleaded guilty to failing to provide for a pig, a pony and a horse that were seized by the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office in March.

Lida Cassata appeared in court Monday without an attorney and agreed to pay $3,000 in restitution to the SPCA, which has been overseeing the care of the seized animals. For pleading to the misdemeanor, Cassata will also be placed on three years of probation.

“We have an agreement, judge, to satisfy both the criminal and the civil ends,” said attorney Michael Ferrarese, who represents the SPCA on a pro bono basis.

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Cassata had little to say during the eight-minute proceeding, other than to state she waived her right to an attorney and to plead guilty to the charge. Prior to the appearance, Cassata met with both First Assistant District Attorney Stephen M. Dunshee and Ferrarese in a closed-door conference, saying her primary concern was getting her animals returned to her.

In the plea agreement, Cassata consented to pay the SPCA $2,000 within five business days and the remaining $1,000 by May 1. After receiving the first $2,000, the SPCA said it would release the animals back into her custody, providing she had adequate facilities to care for the animals.

SPCA Executive Director Carol Hedlund said Wednesday that Cassata had already paid the amount and retrieved her pot-bellied pig from the shelter in Norwich.

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