After case delay, women jailed for animal cruelty

IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. (AP) -- A judge has ordered the jailing of two Upper Peninsula women whose sentencing for starving 30 horses was postponed after the court received a photo of them dressed as a judge and prisoner standing near a person in a horse costume. Joan and Kathy Khoury were originally scheduled for sentencing Nov. 1 in Dickinson County District Court in Iron Mountain. On Monday, Judge Christopher Ninomiya sentenced them to 60 days in jail, with 30 days suspended if they perform 60 days of community service. The women pleaded no contest last month to misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals. A no contest plea isn't an admission of guilt but is treated as such for sentencing purposes. Authorities say the women also mistreated two dozen neglected cats and dogs. Published: Wed, Nov 14, 2012