Continuing Story: Woman Believed to be Lying About Dogs She Sells had been Indicted
By: Kristin Anderson
Updated: March 13, 2013
We told you the story of one of the buyers who says she believes the woman lied to her about where the animals are coming from. Now, the coleman county sheriff's department speak to us. According to them, it could be that Courtney Phillips is taking in litters of puppies for free, and then selling them. While that isn't illegal, they have received multiple complaints and have even tried to press charges on Phillips.
This is the yard at Courtney Phillips house. A yard familiar to Coleman county deputies.
"We have been out there numerous times, we have numerous offense reports regarding allegations made," said Coleman County Sheriff Wade Turner.
"Of her letting the dogs fight with each other, of her letting other dogs come in and catching them inside her fence and having them fight," said Deputy Archie Lancaster.
In 2011 a grand jury indicted Phillips on charges of animal cruelty and dog fighting. The indictment states that she "did intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly torture and in a cruel manner kill an animal." it goes on to state "by tying the dog to a fenced pen and allowing another dog to enter the pen and attack said dog." causing "serious bodily injury to an animal."
Phillips was on probation in Erath county at the time, and the case had to be moved there. Where a judge dropped the charges.
"To be included in another case over there. The judge in Erath county dismissed those charges," said Lancaster. According to him, the judge in Erath found the allegations were not true.
But in terms of the number of dogs phillips own, the sheriff's department can't do much. While the city itself has an animal ordinance, the outer parts of the county does not. So how the sheriff's deal with those complaints is different.
"It depends on what the definitions are in the penal code," said the Sheriff. "Dealing with cruelty to animals or cruelty to non-livestock animals, the agriculture code or if we have animals that are killing other animals, we can pursue that legally, but we don't have any ordinances here."
We also spoke with the Coleman humane society. They declined to go on camera, but referred to it as the "Phillips Situation." The former president told us that phillips has tried to adopt from them, and has even impersonated the humane society.
When asked, the sheriff admitted to been not looking into the breeding and selling aspects of Courtney Phillip's case. But did say: "We'll try to follow up on that," Sheriff Turner said. "I wasn't aware of anything."
We have tried contacting Phillips, but she has not returned our phone calls. Of course, we will continue with this story and bring you any updates.
This is the yard at Courtney Phillips house. A yard familiar to Coleman county deputies.
"We have been out there numerous times, we have numerous offense reports regarding allegations made," said Coleman County Sheriff Wade Turner.
"Of her letting the dogs fight with each other, of her letting other dogs come in and catching them inside her fence and having them fight," said Deputy Archie Lancaster.
In 2011 a grand jury indicted Phillips on charges of animal cruelty and dog fighting. The indictment states that she "did intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly torture and in a cruel manner kill an animal." it goes on to state "by tying the dog to a fenced pen and allowing another dog to enter the pen and attack said dog." causing "serious bodily injury to an animal."
Phillips was on probation in Erath county at the time, and the case had to be moved there. Where a judge dropped the charges.
"To be included in another case over there. The judge in Erath county dismissed those charges," said Lancaster. According to him, the judge in Erath found the allegations were not true.
But in terms of the number of dogs phillips own, the sheriff's department can't do much. While the city itself has an animal ordinance, the outer parts of the county does not. So how the sheriff's deal with those complaints is different.
"It depends on what the definitions are in the penal code," said the Sheriff. "Dealing with cruelty to animals or cruelty to non-livestock animals, the agriculture code or if we have animals that are killing other animals, we can pursue that legally, but we don't have any ordinances here."
We also spoke with the Coleman humane society. They declined to go on camera, but referred to it as the "Phillips Situation." The former president told us that phillips has tried to adopt from them, and has even impersonated the humane society.
When asked, the sheriff admitted to been not looking into the breeding and selling aspects of Courtney Phillip's case. But did say: "We'll try to follow up on that," Sheriff Turner said. "I wasn't aware of anything."
We have tried contacting Phillips, but she has not returned our phone calls. Of course, we will continue with this story and bring you any updates.
