Haddam Woman Dodges Jail in Animal Abuse Cases Spanning Multiple States

A woman from Connecticut accused of pretending to be a professional dog trainer and mistreating several animals, with one dying, has agreed to a plea deal that keeps her out of prison for now.

Middletown Court Sentences Haddam Woman to Probation

Court documents reveal that Josephine M. Ragland, 29, from Haddam, admitted guilt on August 29 in Middletown Superior Court to two counts of animal cruelty. The judge gave her two years of probation, with a warning of up to 22 months in jail if she breaks the rules. The terms include getting mental health help and not offering pet care services for money, reported The Middletown Press.

The case caught people’s attention after Charlie, a French Bulldog belonging to professional poker player Bart Hanson from Massachusetts, died while Ragland was taking care of him in 2023. Investigators later concluded that the dog died from heatstroke after being left without food or water. During this time, Ragland told police she was on a gambling binge at a casino instead of watching the animals.

Prosecutors claim Ragland deceived the Hansons. She sent them fake updates using old photos and videos to make it seem Charlie was okay. When they pushed her about where he was, she lied, saying he had run away and gotten hit by a car. They found his remains in Norwich. Ragland’s mother, 65-year-old Jacqueline Teresa Witt, had dumped them there.

Witt also struck a plea deal in August. A court found her guilty of three counts of animal cruelty under the Alford doctrine. This legal principle lets a defendant claim innocence while admitting prosecutors could win a conviction at trial. She got a three-year conditional discharge. She faces over two and a half years of possible jail time if she violates her release terms. Like her daughter, she cannot look after other people’s pets.

Court Says Allegations ‘Too Harsh’ for Diversion as Trainer’s Fraud Cases Span Three States

Officials stated Charlie’s passing revealed wider neglect. When cops searched Witt’s Haddam house, they discovered four more dogs in bad shape. This finding led to extra charges and ruled out pretrial diversion programs that could have dropped the case. Judge Alyce Alfano said in March that the claims were “too many” and “too harsh” to deserve such mercy.

Ragland’s legal issues extend beyond Connecticut. In Massachusetts, she has faced accusations of larceny and fraud related to payments for dog training she never provided. Some of these cases ended with her on probation and paying restitution. In California, Palo Alto police still want to arrest her for grand theft and stealing a companion animal. This case involves a German Shepherd whose owner claimed Ragland tried to give back a different dog, saying the original had died.

For Hanson, the Connecticut plea brought some closure. He posted on social media that although almost two years had passed since Charlie died, the guilty plea marked the end of a long battle to hold someone responsible.