The criminal trial for Washington County Controller April Sloane, who is accused of neglecting her dog and causing its starvation death last year, is being delayed until September.
Sloane’s defense attorney, Louis Emmi, requested the continuance last month, and it was granted Friday by Washington County Court of Common Pleas Judge John DiSalle, who set the new trial date for Sept. 10.
Jury selection was scheduled to begin Monday morning for Sloane’s trial on two felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty and one misdemeanor charge of animal neglect in connection with the Nov. 27 death of her dog, Thor, at her North Strabane townhouse. Sloane was arrested and charged Dec. 12, less than a week after North Strabane police searched her home and found the dog’s carcass in a trash bag in the garage.
In his continuance request dated May 13, Emmi asked for more time for discovery to review evidence, while also stating he would not be available for trial terms until August. Sloane, who is up for reelection next year after taking office in January 2022, is free on $150,000 unsecured bond and continuing to work as county controller while she awaits her trial.