A Coachella woman who police say dumped seven puppies into a dumpster behind an auto parts store in Coachella pleaded not guilty in an Indio courtroom on Tuesday to felony animal cruelty charges.
Culwell has pleaded not guilty to all charges. She’s due back in court June 27. @KESQ
— Jeremy Chen (@JeremyChenKESQ) June 18, 2019
Deborah Sue Culwell, 54, is accused of pulling up to the trash bin on April 18 and throwing the bag of 3-day-old puppies into it, then driving away. Police used surveillance video of the incident to link her to the crime and arrested her three days later. She is currently out on bail.
This man Roger Edward drove from #LosAngeles to protest Culwell with a sign. I spoke with him outside the courthouse. @KESQ pic.twitter.com/4YpVDlkL0o
— Jeremy Chen (@JeremyChenKESQ) June 18, 2019
Culwell is due back in court on June 27. If convicted of the seven felony animal cruelty counts, she could face up to six years in jail – though District Attorney’s Office spokesman John Hall told KMIR that jail time in a cruelty case is rare and most offenders receive probation and fines.
