Sentencing for Anchorage Woman in Animal Cruelty Case Postponed

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Sentencing for Michelle Anne Appel, a 50-year-old Anchorage woman convicted of a Class A misdemeanor for animal cruelty, has been postponed following lengthy character testimony from witnesses. The incident, which took place on March 29 near College Drive in the Russian Jack neighborhood, involved video evidence of Appel striking her Saint Bernard dog with a shovel.

The defense presented several character witnesses, including foster children, her mother, and her biological son. The delay also arose due to a legal discussion about the court’s ability to suspend mandatory minimum penalties outlined in AMC 8.55.050, especially in relation to AMC 8.05.020D, and whether those minimums necessitate jail time. The new sentencing date is set for November 23 at 10 a.m.