Rabbit hoarder charged with violating her probation

HILLSBORO, Ore. - She was arrested and charged for animal neglect, hundreds of rabbits, both alive and dead, were removed from her property and she was ordered to get out of the bunny business, but neighbors say she is at it again.

Miriam Sakewitz is charged with violating her probation after a prosecutor showed a Washington County judge proof that she may be raising rabbits again - photos a neighbor took of her property.

Sakewitz had no comment as she walked out of court on Thursday. The judge postponed her probation violation hearing, but she was ordered to pay restitution for previous charges.

Sakewitz avoided jail time in April by pleading guilty to dozens of charges of First and Second Degree Animal Neglect. This, after police seized over 150 live rabbits and nearly 100 dead ones she had been keeping in a freezer at her Hillsboro home.

In January, she broke into a secure facility to get some of them back.

Sakewitz was banned from owning any domestic animals for five years, but on June 29, neighbors took pictures of at least one rabbit in her garage.

When probation officers arrived that same day, they say Sakewitz would not answer her door, another violation of her probation.

"We're surprised to a certain degree because we really felt the deal she worked out with the District Attorney and her pleaing to this and getting the help with parole and probation would have helped her to get the right help to not do this again," said Lt. Michael Rouches with the Hillsboro Police Department.