Staff reports 7:40 a.m.
Sunday, September 4, 2022 7:39 am
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ROCHESTER - A city woman accused of felony animal cruelty pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge instead after the felony count was dropped.
Brenda McCrary, 64, of Pickering Road, had faced up to seven years in state prison if convicted on the more serious charge, because she was convicted on similar charges in January 2017.
McCrary was sentenced to a year in county jail on the misdemeanor cruelty charge, all suspended for a year, during which time she will face semi-annual visits to make sure she is treating her dog humanely.
At the time of her April arrest Rochester Police Capt. Todd Pinkham said the charges were the result of alleged cruelty incidents in both February and March when officers responded to her address to find a dog outside in the cold without adequate shelter.
In the February incident, police responded and "noticed the dog was in fact outside," Pinkham said. "The temperature reading at that time was 19 degrees, and the water in the water bowl was frozen."
About a month later police went to check on the pooch and found it again outside and cold.
McCrary had been out on personal recognizance pending her sentencing.