Mr. Forrest Wegge was professional and thorough, as might be expected but he clearly understands the concerns dog people have over this case.  He said his office has been “deluged with email, many of them with questions that can not yet be answered.”

I explained that there is rampant speculation as to how seriously this case will be regarded.  Without hesitation, Mr. Wegge said “She has been charged with eight individual counts of animal abuse.  Each is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both.”

Mr. Wegge, our readers fear that your office may not seek maximum sentencing because Missouri is known as a “puppy mill state.”  Could you respond to that?

“Yes.  After reviewing evidence appropriate to the case, we filed 8 separate counts of animal abuse.  She hasn’t entered a plea yet.  She will do so August 12th.  The case could be decided by a judge or by jury trial but the judge will impose sentence based on the evidence.”

Could this have been a felony count in Missouri?

“We have two state statutes to deal with.  Neglect is a Class B misdemeanor for the first conviction.  Neglect carries up to 6 months and/or a $500 fine.  Animal abuse is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year and a $1,000 fine.  Felony charges could apply if this were a second Abuse Offense or if there was evidence of deliberate torture and an elevated Class D felony conviction carries up to 4 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.”

You mentioned a flood of emails.  Have you to talked to dog experts or professional handlers to obtain evidence?

“The law is specific as to what can and cannot be presented in a criminal case as compared to Civil law.  We have to prove specific evidence to support the charges and it is a high burden of proof; therefore only directly related evidence can be considered.  That does not include opinion on whether a defendant is a “good” or “bad” person as might be heard in civil court.”

We thank Jefferson County Prosecutor Forrest Wegge for responding to our questions.  For those with concerns about Missouri, it appears that his office is taking the Mary Wild case very seriously.  The evidence was compelling, thus the 8 individual charges.  As Mr. Wegge pointed out, it is the judge who will impose sentence.

7 of the 8 dogs died.  Wild was charged with knowingly failing to provide adequate care for a top winning Akita bitch, a Dalmatian believed to belong to her assistant, three Golden Retrievers, two Siberian Huskies, and one Malamute.  The Malamute may have belonged to Mary's mother or been one of her breeding.  There were witnesses listed but we are withholding their names at this time.

We will let you know about Wild’s plea August 12^th and whether there will be a jury trial, following this case to its just conclusion and sentencing.

We would like to thank the Detective Division for providing Mary Wild's booking photo.  Capt. Brown has ten working police dogs under his command.  Each dog lives with his handler and wears a bullet-proof vest with a badge when on duty.

Since there seems little question as to responsibility or neglect, we sought to confirm whether or not Mary Wild is suspended pending outcome of the case.  We reached Jack Norton, Director Of Compliance for the American Kennel Club but unfortunately, he was unable to answer.   He said I would need to contact their Communications Department for press releases.  I explained that we didn't need a press release, it was one answer to a simple policy question and he is after all, the Director.  He was most congenial but again referred me to Communications.  

09|02|09  Mary Wild’s lawyer has been busy.  They have requested a trial by jury as well as a change of venue. The change of venue hearing is to be held Sept 15 at 11AM, it’s not clear if that supersedes her 9AM hearing on that date. She’ll get the jury trial, but may not get the change of venue.   If they had waived the jury trial, Wild would have been subject to the letter of the law, 1 year+$1000 fine on each count, at the judge's discretion if he finds her guilty.

09|30|09  Mary Wild received a continuance until October 13th 9 A.M. in criminal court.  The request for change of venue was dropped but she will be tried by jury on 8 counts of animal abuse and even though the local publicity has died down, our guess is that Forrest Wegge, Jefferson County’s Prosecuting Attorney, will make sure jury members fully recall the horror Wild created.

In the meantime, Mary Wild's sister is showing dogs down south.  Her mother is a strong figure in dogs and of course, working to defend her daughter. 

The story is NOT being followed by local news media and efforts to petition the newspaper with Letters To The Editor have been blocked.  When I spoke with Carolyn Marty of the Post Dispatch, she was curt but definitive "No, we are not covering that story at all."   As a reporter, I can't imagine why a major, local, human interest story isn't being followed but she's the editor.  Perhaps she just doesn't like dogs, perhaps she has been persuaded by Mary Wild's defense council, or she perceives that people in Missouri are just immune to stories of dog abuse.