Sloane has bail revoked and reset in animal cruelty case

The Washington County controller was able to post the $150,000 figure through a bond agency.

Bail was revoked and reset Wednesday for Washington County Controller April Sloane, who is accused of torturing and starving her dog last year.

In December, Sloane was charged with two felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty and a misdemeanor charge of animal neglect after police said she allegedly neglected her dog Thor, at her North Strabane Township home and caused its death from “severe emaciation.”

Washington County Court of Common Pleas Judge John DiSalle originally scheduled a trial Wednesday morning for Sloane.

According to our news partners at WTAE, DiSalle revoked a $150,000 bond Wednesday morning because Sloane was not allowed to own pets or have any access to animals as part of her bond conditions, leading to her being taken to Allegheny County Jail.

According to her mother and County Commissioner Nick Sherman, Sloane was living with a man who owned a cat. The judge then set bail again at $150,000, which Sloane posted through a bond agency, according to court records.

In January, Sloane waived her right to a prel iminary hearing for the animal cruelty charges via Zoom.

That request was initially denied because Sloane intended to proceed with a full preliminary hearing. Sloane participated in the video chat, only to waive her right to a preliminary hearing.

A formal arraignment was Feb. 29 and court cases in Washington County are scheduled on the Administrative Trial List, which was March 3. The unsecured bail was set at $150,000 Dec. 12.

In a message to WTAE on Wednesday, Sloane said she was “having a bit of a rough day. But I’m home now.”

Sloane is no stranger to legal issues, with a dispute between her and Washington County Treasurer Tom Flickinger after she required residents to fill out federal tax forms to receive tax refunds. Both parties agreed to a consent order in May.

Flickinger claimed Sloane refused to refund taxpayers, and Flickinger chose to pursue legal action so Sloane would “comply with the law.”

Flickinger said in a statement that Sloane was required to give tax money back, and he compelled Sloane to cease and desist from enforcing her tax policy.

Washington County Commissioners established a fiscal policy March 7 that “overruled the Controller’s self-imposed policy,” according to the statement, requiring taxpayers to supply the county with a W-9 before Sloane would release refunds to taxpayers of their own money.

Since the animal cruelty charges against Sloane surfaced, numerous high-ranking Washington County officials and both local Republican and Democratic committees as well as residents have called for Sloane’s resignation.

County Commissioner Larry Maggi said in a release Wednesday that when an elected official is jailed, it causes “other issues” and “disruptions in service provided to taxpayers.”

“It’s a sad day in Washington County, but many taxpayers don’t understand that the commissioners have no authority over the Controller’s office,” Maggie stated in the release. “Because she was elected by the voters, the commissioners cannot appoint anyone to take her place. The only way she can be removed from office is by impeachment by the state legislators or if she is voted out of office when her term expires. I am sympathetic with the taxpayers, but unfortunately, the Board of Commissioners’ hands are tied.”

Deputy Controller Heather Sheatler assumed the duties of the county controller as of Wednesday. Sloane’s trial is now in September.

Sloane, a Republican, took office in January 2022, and her term is set to run through the end of 2025. The controller is in charge of oversight of county assets and funds.