Oct. 22--An Elgin woman charged with cruelty after dozens of animals in her care were discovered dead or in poor health has a February trial date, though attorneys met with the judge Wednesday to discuss a potential plea bargain.
A Kane County prosecutor and the attorney for Stacy Fiebelkorn, 46, met privately with Judge Thomas Stanfa to talk over Fiebelkorn's case. Details of the meeting were not available and a Dec. 4 status date was set in the case.
A plea deal could be executed at that appearance for Fiebelkorn, whose presence was waived for Wednesday's proceeding.
She has a Feb. 6 trial date on misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty stemming from March 2014, when animal control officers and police converged on a Hampshire-area farm to remove a menagerie of animals belonging to Fiebelkorn, who operated a petting zoo and animal rescue organization.
Police took control of more than 90 animals, including horses, miniature horses, chickens, and goats, some of which were seriously ill and all lacking access to water. Officials also found several dead animals.
Kane County animal control officials had been tipped that a horse belonging to Fiebelkorn had been found dead on a farm near Maple Park. That investigation led to the larger discovery of about 90 animals at a property near Hampshire that Fiebelkorn rented.
After her arrest Fiebelkorn relinquished control of most of the smaller animals she owned and later was ordered by a judge to forfeit about 30 equines.
