FARMINGTON — A Franklin County court will hear a motion July 31 to force the state to return pets to a New Sharon woman who is prohibited by the court to possess animals.

Two kittens, a dog and a pot-bellied pig were seized July 2.

Carol Murphy, 71, faces a plenary contempt of court charge in relation to an Oct. 1, 2014, animal seizure for violating two court-ordered lifetime bans on animal possession. She was convicted in 2005 and 2010 of animal cruelty.

Murphy’s documents filed with the court indicate she also wants returned the 14 animals that were forfeited to the state in 2014.

A Franklin County judge granted a state prosecutor’s forfeiture request Oct. 31, 2014, for the animals. Active-Retired Judge Robert Clifford denied Murphy’s motion at the time to dismiss the forfeiture and the case because Murphy did not attend the hearing.

Murphy has filed many court documents since October in regard to the two seizures and contempt of court charge.

Two warrants were issued for Murphy’s arrest during that time because she failed to appear in court on the contempt violation.

Judge Lance Walker set bail for Murphy at $2,500 unsecured bond in June after she was arrested on a warrant charging failure to appear for jury selection for the contempt case. Walker gave Murphy notice to appear on Aug. 28 for a status conference on the matter in Franklin County Superior Court.

If she doesn’t appear, the state will have the option of issuing another warrant for her arrest, Walker said.

Murphy told the court she was “not a U.S. citizen” and the court did not have jurisdiction over her. She referred to herself as an American National of the Republic of Maine and therefore under the jurisdiction of the constitution of 1819 and 1820, she said.

Walker told her he did have jurisdiction.

Assistant District Attorney Joshua Robbins said after the most recent seizure earlier this month that the state will continue to seize any animals that Murphy possesses.

dperry@sunmediagroup.net

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