Two women from Wellston who were charged last year with multiple counts of animal cruelty have each pleaded no contest to each of the charges.
Forty-nine charges of cruelty to animals were filed in Lincoln County District Court on Aug. 17, 2023 against Lisa Zumstein, 60, and Madeline Zumstein, 20. Each faced the 49 felony counts.
At their scheduled preliminary hearing recently before Special Judge Emily Mueller, each entered no contest pleas to the charges as a result of a plea bargain. Each waived the two-judge rule and presentence investigations.
Judge Mueller received their pleas and found each guilty as charged.
The judge sentenced Lisa Zumstein on each count to five years in the custody of the Department of Corrections with all time suspended; a $100 fine on Count 1 only; a $100 VCA on each of 49 counts; court costs on each count; 991C fees; and supervised probation with the Oklahoma Court Services.
Lisa was ordered to report to the Court Clerk’s Office.
Judge Mueller, on each count, deferred sentencing for Madeline Zumstein for a period of five years; fined her $100 on Count 1 only; $100 VCA on each count; court costs on each count; 991C fees; and ordered supervised probation with Oklahoma Court Services.
She was told to report to the Court Clerk’s Office.
Assistant District Attorney Rachel Thompson handled the cases for the state and Lisa and Madeline were represented by R. Scott Adams.
Last August, Lincoln County Sheriff Sgt. Aaron Bennett emphasized, “In my 20 years of law enforcement this is the worst case of animal neglect I’ve ever seen.”
Bennett said 72 animals were rescued on July 26 as officers conducted their second search warrant within a week of the property located at 920028 S. 3370 Road in Wellston.
Among the animals rescued were six sheep, 13 goats, 29 horses and 22 cattle, actually 24 minus the two that had to be put down on the scene, Bennett stated.
Bennett, in a probable cause affidavit filed in the case, said the investigation began the morning of March 15 when Lincoln County Deputy Phil Bennett received information from Lincoln County Sgt. Tanner Hand regarding possible animal neglect at 920028 S. 3370 Road in Wellston.
Around 3:30 that afternoon, Deputy Bennett arrived at that property observing several baby goats running in the road and a large amount of trash in the roadway around the residence, according to the affidavit.
He reportedly observed a gray horse that looked unhealthy with ribs showing, that had not direct contact with feed or water, standing in a large trash pile that contained jagged metal, wire, chain link fencing, broken wood and other trash.
Deputy Bennett said as he walked around he saw no feed or water, only trash throughout the property.
Water buckets and barrels appeared mostly empty and/or knocked over with a few standing upright with some water in them, he noted.
The deputy tried to contact the property owner but was unable to, though he did contact Madeline Zumstein, the owner’s daughter.
Around 5 p.m., he received a call from Lisa Zumstein, the property owner and set up a time to meet to discuss the conditions of the animals.
Bennett met the following day with her to do an animal welfare check due to complaints and calls the sheriff’s office had received.
Sgt. Aaron Bennett has stated people in the area had complained about the condition of the animals and their getting out and roaming around.