The Chenango County Courthouse. A defendant in an animal cruelty case, Jane M. Richards, refused a plea deal offer from prosecutors that would have kept her out of jail. The case is heading to trial where Richards could face a maximum sentence of up to 14 years in prison. (Photo by Sarah Genter)

CHENANGO COUNTY - A defendant in an animal cruelty case was told to “Be quiet” after interrupting the judge in Chenango County Court Monday. The woman repeatedly told officials she would never bargain with the prosecution, or follow orders, and doubted she would go to prison, despite warnings to the contrary from County Court Judge Frank B. Revoir.

Jane M. Richards, 74, was indicted by a grand jury on a 19-count indictment that includes seven felonies and 12 misdemeanors relating to animal neglect and cruelty charges under New York Agriculture and Markets Laws.

Richards was charged along with three other defendants by the New York State Police on May 16, 2024, in a case involving more than 100 animals at a farm on Clark Lane and Pig Farm Lane in New Berlin. The allegedly neglected animals included horses, swine, cattle, sheep, goats, a llama, dogs and cats.  

In court the prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Christopher A. Curley, offered a plea deal for a single felony count of aggravated animal cruelty that was resoundingly rejected by Richards.

Curley said a guilty plea to the charge would result in no jail time and a sentence of five years of probation. Richards would also be required to surrender all animals and not own any while on probation.

If the plea had been accepted, Judge Revoir noted he would waive many of the fees and fines because the defendant in the case was unemployed and disabled.