A woman at the center of an animal-hoarding incident was sentenced
By Jef Rietsma Journal Correspondent A woman at the center of the largest animal-hoarding incident in the history of St. Joseph County Animal Control was sentenced Friday. Diane Pitone, 49, appearing before circuit court judge Paul Stutesman, was ordered to pay restitution of nearly $5,000 to the agency. Stutesman, taking into consideration a number of factors, did not order jail time or probation. Appearing via Zoom alongside attorney Stephen Rabaut, Pitone said she never meant to bring harm to any of the more than 150 cats retrieved in summer 2020 from a Fishers Lake home in Park Township....