BRICK – The two women allegedly responsible for hoarding 180 dogs and cats in a Brick Township home have rejected the state’s guilty plea offer.
Aimee J. Lonczak, 50, and Michele Nycz, 58, were in court before Superior Court Judge Linda Baxter on April 18 to determine whether they would accept a plea deal.
Lonczak and Nycz are both charged with animal cruelty and child endangerment in connection to the discovery of nearly 180 animals in cages in a home and vehicle on Arrowhead Park Drive in Brick Township. Back in December, authorities found cats and dogs in cages, standing in their own feces and urine.
Officials deemed the living conditions uninhabitable and the home was condemned by Brick Township code enforcement.
Additionally, Lonczak’s 16-year-old daughter was living in the home with the 180 animals.
Previously, the women filed motions to have their personal dogs returned to them. They claimed that when the animals were seized by authorities, seven of the dogs personally belonged to them and wanted them released back into their care.
In February and March, agreements were made that these dogs were officially surrendered to the state and would be put up for adoption.
The two returned to court to make a decision on the plea offers. Assistant Prosecutor Alexander Becker said for both Lonczak and Nycz, the state was seeking each probation with 364 days in Ocean County Jail as well as no animal ownership or employment, and mandatory community service.
However, both women rejected the guilty plea offer and will now face a grand jury.
Baxter told both Lonczak and Nycz that if they reject the plea deals and it goes to a grand jury, their future plea offers would not be as lenient.
Rocky reunites with his family after being found in an animal hoarding incident. (Photo courtesy Ocean County Health Department)
Depending on the degree, Baxter said the two could face anywhere from 3 to 5 years in state prison for animal cruelty and anywhere from 5 to 10 years in state prison for child endangerment.
Despite hearing this information, Lonczak and Nycz confirmed that they rejected the plea.
Their legal teams did not provide any counter offers, and both women made no comments on the stand regarding their decision to reject the plea offer.
At this time, a new court date will be scheduled.
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