Woman who left pets in hot trailer at Holter Lake campground receives deferred sentence

A woman who pleaded guilty in February to leaving two dogs and three cats inside a hot camper trailer last September received a one-year deferred sentence Thursday, meaning she will not serve jail time if she complies with the conditions of her release.

Sarah Josephine Adam told Judge Kathy Seeley she felt bad about endangering her animals and has learned from her mistake last September, when she and her husband left the animals in the trailer at the Log Gulch Campground on Holter Lake for more than nine hours.

“I do regret what happened,” Adam said. “It makes me sad that I didn’t think more about it.”

Adam pleaded guilty in late February to one count of misdemeanor cruelty to animals and one felony animal cruelty count. She received a one-year suspended sentence and $500 fine for the misdemeanor and a one-year deferred sentence and $500 fine for the felony at Thursday's sentencing hearing. The sentences will run concurrently.

Adam said she now has only two pets, which Seeley said was a good thing because Adam had been overwhelmed with five of them. Her attorney, Reed Allen, said she and her husband, who has also pleaded guilty to similar charges, had just moved to the area last September and were living in the trailer while they looked for housing.

He said she was distracted that day when she and Kenneth Joseph Adam left the campground to go to Belgrade to pick up mail. But they stopped by the library in Helena on their way back and did not arrive back at the campsite until 8:30 p.m. The high temperature that day was 82 degrees, and the animals were left without water, according to court documents.

A Lewis and Clark County sheriff’s deputy was called out to a report of dogs whimpering in the trailer and one of them breaking out a window to get air. He was able to get the dogs some water and stayed on the scene for about three hours until the Adams arrived back at the campsite.

Allen said luckily none of the animals were harmed that day. He said she has since found stable work and housing.

“This was a one-time mistake. She’d like to take full accountability. She respects the law and will learn from the experience,” he said.

Kenneth Adam is scheduled to be sentenced in his case on April 30.