The second suspect sought by Woodland police in a case of cat abuse and child endangerment was taken into custody and charged on November 19.
Katrina Emma Gamble, 38, pleaded not guilty to felony charges in Yolo Superior Court on that date, according to court records, reported The Davis Enterprise. She is scheduled to return to court on December 10 for a preliminary hearing. Her co-defendant in the case, Jack Louis Dearing III, 41, will also appear in court on that date.
The residence in located on a large towing and auto dismantling yard next to the railroad tracks.
Gamble and Dearing stand accused of confining more than 40 domestic felines in their business and residence on North Pioneer Avenue in Woodland. Dearing runs, or is employed by LJ’s Towing in Woodland. The residence was also at the time occupied by two children, ages 3 and 4. The abused animals were discovered by Yolo County Child Protective Services during a welfare check on September 30.
Authorities allege that Gamble and Dearing “did inflict…unjustifiable pain and suffering” on the children. The animal abuse charge addresses the fact that the couple did not care properly for the cats. According to Yolo County Chief Animal Services Officer Vicky Fletcher, the cats were “closed up in a very small room with no ventilation.“ Fletcher also stated that all but five of the cats have now been placed in homes.
Gamble, court records show, has previously been convicted of animal abuse, for which she served probation as punishment. Gamble is currently lodged in the confines of the Yolo County Jail in lieu of $90,000 bail, The Davis Enterprise reported.
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