Three Upper Peninsula residents — including a woman who allegedly bit a police officer during her arrest — have been charged with animal abuse, officials said.
Brianna Makoskey, 23, Kruzz Makoskey, 22, and Nichole Jarvey, 45, all of Cornell, were arraigned Monday in 94th District Court in Escanaba, the Michigan State Police said.
The three are charged with a felony count of abandoning or cruelty to 25 or more animals and eight misdemeanor counts of simple or gross animal neglect, according to authorities.
A judge set bond for each defendant at $10,000 and scheduled their next court hearing for Aug. 20.
If convicted, each faces up to seven years in prison for the animal cruelty charge, and up to 93 days in jail for each count of misdemeanor animal neglect.
Attorneys for the defendants were not immediately available for comment on Friday.
The charges stem from an investigation that began on Feb. 3. Michigan State Police troopers with the Gladstone Post received a report about suspected animal neglect at a property in Cornell Township in the U.P.'s Delta County, according to authorities. They said troopers were told multiple suspects were involved.
Officials said troopers executed a search warrant at the property, located on County Road 426. Police found several dead animals, including cats, rabbits, pigs, and goats. Investigators also found 14 cats, 12 rabbits, and a sheep that were malnourished and in poor condition, officials said.
All of the animals were removed.
As the troopers were wrapping up their investigation, Brianna Makoskey argued with them, detectives said. She also refused to comply with their commands, according to state police.
Investigators said the woman then allegedly bit one of the troopers on the wrist. Police informed her she was being arrested, she continued fighting with them, and even tried to bite another trooper, officials said.
Troopers subdued Makoskey, arrested her, and took the woman to the Delta County Jail.
She was charged with three felony counts of resisting a police officer, police said. Resisting a police officer in Michigan is punishable by up to two years in prison, four if a defendant causes an officer an injury that requires medical care.
The case follows other recent cases involving animal abuse or cruelty.
Last month, a Warren woman pleaded no contest to charges that she allegedly neglected two dozen animals at her home.
Also in July, a St. Clair Shores man pleaded no contest to charges that he beat and strangled a dog in March.
In June, a Detroit man accused of burning a raccoon alive and posting the video of the aftermath on social media was charged.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: U.P. trio accused of animal abuse charged