ASHLAND — An Ashland County woman accused of killing her cat in May has been found competent to stand trial.
April Parks, 44, appeared at a hearing Monday from the Ashland County Jail to learn how the judge would rule on a not guilty by reason of insanity plea she entered in July.
Parks faces a fifth-degree felony charge of cruelty to animals. Officials allege she stabbed a black cat with a chef’s knife and covered it up with a towel.
Dr. Shannon Porter of Mansfield’s District V Forensic Diagnostic Center found Parks is “currently capable of understanding the nature and objective of the legal proceedings against her.”
The report also said Parks experienced symptoms of a severe mental disease at the time of the alleged offense and that she is being treated.
Ashland County Court of Common Pleas Judge Dave Stimpert ruled Monday Parks was competent to stand trial, setting it to begin March 11.
Bond conditions violated
The mental health report was initially due in August. By November, according to court documents, the report was still not completed. Ashland County Court of Common Pleas Judge Dave Stimpert ordered it be completed by Dec. 30, a deadline met by the prosecution.
Defense attorney Jaceda Blazef and Ashland County Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Metcalf, met with the judge on Jan. 6 to discuss the report. However, at the time, Metcalf said he needed additional time to review before ruling.
But Blazef also had other business, trying to convince the judge to reinstate Parks’ bond.
Stimpert revoked her bond Dec. 31 following the prosecutor’s office stating Parks was selling animals online while out on bond.
Blazef didn’t deny the allegation.
“That is how she has earned a living,” Blazef said of Parks’ selling and breeding of pets.
On Dec. 16, however, Parks experienced a death in the family, so she spent the night at a house in which her children live to comfort them.
The house also contains pets, which meant Parks violated the condition of her bond that states she is not permitted to be in contact with animals.
“It was an isolated incident and I don’t think she’ll ever go back there, judge,” Blazef said during a Jan. 6 hearing. She said Parks hadn’t violated the conditions of her bond, arguing that she hadn’t been in personal contact with animals.
“I didn’t see anything specifically that said she couldn’t continue to sell, as long as she did not get near the animals, or be around them,” Blazef said.
Metcalf disagreed with the interpretation of the bond conditions.
“That’s an interesting read of the bond conditions,” he said.
Stimpert has yet to rule on a bond reinstatment. Meanwhile, Parks remains in Ashland County Jail, where she’s been since Dec. 31.
On Monday, Stimpert said he would make a ruling on Parks’ bond later in the week.