Gibson Co. woman takes plea deal in puppy mill case

GIBSON COUNTY, Tenn. — A woman charged with 50 counts of animal cruelty has taken a plea deal.

Sheila Carlton, 65, was in court Thursday and took a plea bargain of five counts, all class A misdemeanors.

With all jail time being suspended, Carlton accepted a term of five years of probation in which she is unable to own any dogs and during which her house can be searched at any time.

She was also fined $250 as well as court costs for all five counts.

Carlton’s house on Griers Chapel Road between Trenton and Dyer was raided June 7 after the sheriff’s department received a tip about puppies living in bad conditions.