A Delaware County courtroom has largely wrapped up a messy animal-cruelty case that started with a winter raid on a Troy Township property where more than 20 animals were found in filthy, freezing conditions. On Thursday, a judge dismissed the remaining misdemeanor animal-cruelty charges against 73-year-old Sharon Hinton, while her daughter, 51-year-old Angela Kimbleton, had already pleaded guilty to a smaller set of counts. Court filings and shelter records show the women initially faced dozens of misdemeanor charges as the investigation unfolded.
Charges, pleas and fines
According to The Columbus Dispatch, Hinton saw her remaining misdemeanor counts tossed and was ordered to pay about $185 in court costs. The same records show Kimbleton pleaded guilty in March to five animal-cruelty-related counts and must pay more than $5,300 in restitution, while prosecutors dropped roughly 17 other misdemeanor charges against her.
What investigators found at the property
The Jan. 23 search by Humane Society agents and Delaware County deputies turned up a grim inventory: nine dogs, five pot-bellied pigs, three cats, two chickens, a duck, a turtle, and a rabbit were removed from the property. Investigators documented animals with untreated injuries or ailments and reported dogs kept in crates that had been zip-tied shut, broken windows covered with blankets, frozen water sources for outdoor animals, and signs of frostbite and lice. CWColumbus detailed the seizure and the Humane Society of Delaware County’s account of what they walked into that day.
Previous interventions at the same address
This was not the first time humane agents had knocked on this door. Local reporting notes that the Humane Society says it removed more than 20 animals from the same Troy Township property during an earlier intervention in 2021. Shelter officials told reporters that the animals from the latest seizure would not be made available for adoption until the legal issues were resolved and asked the public for donations to help cover veterinary bills. Earlier coverage by 614NOW outlines the prior removal and the continuing strain on local rescue resources.
Legal implications
Documents cited by The Columbus Dispatch show how the case narrowed over time through plea deals and dismissals. Kimbleton’s guilty plea brought restitution and other court-ordered penalties, while Hinton ultimately walked away from the remaining misdemeanor counts. Any additional limits on animal ownership or related civil claims would hinge on the exact wording of court orders and the Ohio statutes that govern forfeiture and restitution in animal-cruelty cases.
Animals' care and next steps
The Humane Society of Delaware County has said its staff and veterinary partners moved quickly to provide medical care and triage after the January seizure, and they are preparing recoverable animals for adoption once they are healthy. The shelter, together with the county dog-warden, has handled the intake and day-to-day care. Local outlets reported that at least one animal was so badly injured it had to be euthanized, and shelter leaders continue to seek financial support to cover ongoing treatment costs, according to CWColumbus and shelter statements.
With the latest rulings in place, the criminal side of this case appears mostly closed for Hinton, while Kimbleton’s guilty plea and the long-term fate of the seized animals remain the immediate loose ends for county officials and the Humane Society to manage.
