Court upholds conviction for former New Sharon woman who defied pet ban

FARMINGTON, Maine (AP) — Maine’s high court has upheld a woman’s contempt conviction for violating an order that prevents her from owning animals.

In an opinion released Tuesday, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court said 71-year-old Carol Murphy did not challenge the facts of the case, instead relying on “fanciful and jumbled” legal theories to say the trial court had no jurisdiction over her.

Murphy was convicted of animal cruelty in 2005 and 2010 after officials seized dozens of pets from her New Sharon home. She was subsequently forbidden to own animals.

She was convicted of contempt of the court order in November after witnesses reported that she had once again begun collecting animals.

She was sentenced to 364 days in jail. It is not clear when she will begin serving the sentence.