— By DONNA PERRY
Sun Journal
FARMINGTON — Police say a 65-year-old New Sharon woman assaulted a state trooper with a 975,000-volt stun gun during an investigation into possible animal hoarding at her home on Lane Road.
Carol Murphy pleaded not guilty in Franklin County Superior Court on Thursday to assault on an officer, criminal threatening, refusing to submit to arrest and criminal use of an electronic weapon. She was being held at the Franklin County jail on $10,000 cash bail or $100,000 in real estate.
State Animal Welfare Program staff and Maine State Police seized at least 40 domestic and farm animals, including a donkey, two alpacas and a pot-bellied pig, at Murphy's house on Thursday.
"We found a lot of animals," Animal Welfare Director Norma Worley said. "Forty minimal; maybe more."
Murphy is under a court order that bars her from keeping animals at her home.
In 2004, nearly 70 animals were seized from her property, most of them living in her house and garage. In 2005, she was convicted of animal cruelty and possessing animals without permits. Murphy was sentenced to six months in jail, with all but 24 hours suspended, and one year of probation. She was fined and ordered to pay restitution, as well as prohibited from possessing any animals for the rest of her life.
State Trooper Aaron Turcotte went to the house Wednesday after a representative from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals asked police to check on Murphy.
Turcotte wrote in an affidavit that when he arrived at the house he saw several roosters walking around outside and Murphy walking toward her car. He told her he had a warrant for her arrest and asked if she needed to lock her home. She shook her head and walked into her house, he wrote. The warrant was issued for unpaid fines and fees in connection with the animal cruelty conviction in 2005.
After Murphy had been inside for five minutes, Turcotte said he opened the storm door and knocked on the inside door and it partially opened.
"I could smell a strong odor of feces coming from inside the home," he wrote. "I could hear what sounded like several dogs barking from inside."
When Murphy finally came out with her back to him, Turcotte held the door for her because he thought she was having some difficulty.
"At this time, I felt something striking my face and neck, jolting me," he said, and he saw a black object in her hand. "I could then hear the noise being made from the black object and realized I had been shocked by a stun gun on the face and neck," he wrote.
Turcotte said he ordered Murphy to drop the stun gun, which she refused to do and began to advance on him. He used pepper spray on her and grabbed her by the arms, pulling her to the ground. She continued to resist, but he was able to handcuff her, he said.
Turcotte was not seriously injured by the shock to his head and neck.
Murphy was arrested and taken to the Franklin County jail in Farmington on Wednesday.
On Thursday, a donkey could be heard braying and a dog was barking on the property. There were roosters in a pet carrier in the driveway.
The animals were to be taken to shelters around the state, Worley said.
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