Prosecutors given more time to file Gold Bar dog charges
Published 11:07 pm Friday, March 13, 2009
GOLD BAR — Prosecutors have been given another month to decide if they’ll refile felony charges against a Gold Bar-area couple believed to be linked to a multimillion-dollar puppy mill.
Jason and Serenna Larsen, both 37, are charged in Everett District Court with six counts of first-degree animal cruelty. Snohomish County deputy prosecutors now have until April 10 to file the charges in Snohomish County Superior Court.
“We needed additional time to look into all the issues,” deputy prosecutor Jarett Goodkin said Friday. “We felt it was in everybody’s best interest to have all the information before proceeding.”
Snohomish County sheriff’s deputies and animal control officers on Jan. 16 raided a home outside of Gold Bar and rescued about 160 dogs. Many of the animals were covered with urine and feces.
Investigators say the Larsens lived in a house filled with mistreated dogs. The Larsens said they lived elsewhere.
The investigation expanded to a Mount Vernon-area kennel, where 450 dogs were seized. A Snohomish kennel, Wags ‘n’ Wiggles, operated by Renee Roske, also is under investigation by the sheriff’s office.
Jason Larsen has said the dogs in Gold Bar belonged to Roske. He said Roske told him that keeping the dogs as he did broke no laws. Roske has denied owning the dogs. She hasn’t been charged in connection with the operation. Snohomish County has revoked Roske’s kennel license.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463, hefley@heraldnet.com.
