Man pleads guilty to dozens of counts of animal cruelty in Topeka

TOPEKA (KSNT) - Charles Solomon, a man accused of animal cruelty after almost 100 animals were found in deplorable conditions in Topeka, pleaded guilty to all charges on Friday.

The Shawnee County District Attorney's office says Solomon pleaded guilty to all 26 counts of animal cruelty.

On Jan. 30, 2023, Topeka police served a search warrant to seize animals that were at a home in the 1400 block of Southwest Fillmore Street, according to a press release from a spokeswoman with the Office of the Shawnee County District Attorney.

The Topeka Police Department (TPD) announced it found 91 animals in the house. They seized 73 living animals and recovered 18 dead. 

TPD and the Humane Society of the United States discovered more than 10 dead animals in a freezer in the house. Dogs, cats, a guinea pig, a rat, a wild bird and a hawk were inside the home along with chicken remains in a bathtub near the back of the property.

Solomon has a court hearing scheduled for Sept. 5, 2024 to schedule his sentencing.

Court records show the other suspect, Desiree Therrien who is facing eight counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty, has her next court hearing in August. No trial date is listed.

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