What's next for Wetumpka's 'Cat ladies?'
WETUMPKA — The “Cat Ladies” of Wetumpka are working to clear their names.
Their efforts to feed and trap stray cats in downtown Wetumpka, and then paying to have them neutered, drew national and international attention after they were arrested last year.
Beverly Roberts, who was 84 at the time, and Mary Alston, who was 60, were arrested by Wetumpka police June 25, 2022, on misdemeanor charges. In December, Wetumpka Municipal Judge Jeff Courtney found both women guilty; Roberts of criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct and Alston of criminal trespassing and obstructing governmental operations. He sentenced them both to 10 days in jail and two years' probation. The jail sentence was suspended.
The trial in Wetumpka Municipal Court took about five hours and often devolved into the emotional and bizarre. The women filed an appeal to Elmore County Circuit Court, and in April the city of Wetumpka decided to no longer pursue criminal charges against the women.
Now that one year has passed, the statute of limitations has expired and the city cannot reinstate the charges.
“The cat ladies are free!” said Terry Luck, one of the women’s attorneys. “We celebrated the news in April that the city would not be pursuing charges against them during the appeal process. But one year has passed since their arrests.
“Charges cannot be refiled.”
Next on tap for Roberts and Alston? Clearing their names. Luck said they will be pursuing expungement, which would remove the arrests from their records. Without this step, the arrests would remain on their records, even though the charges were dropped.
“Beverly and Mary did nothing wrong, and they should not have these arrests dogging them for the rest of their lives,” he said.
Expungement is a simple procedure. The request is sent to a circuit judge with supporting evidence and motions. The judge then, generally, makes a ruling, without the need of a hearing.
There is also the matter of more than $90,000 that has been raised through a Go Fund Me account to help with the women’s legal fees. More the 3,200 people have made donations, according to Go Fund Me.
Once the legal work is complete, the remaining funds will be donated to animal welfare efforts, Luck said. He declined to comment on whether a civil suit is planned.
Roberts and Alston were feeding and trapping stray, or feral cats, on public property in downtown Wetumpka. They paid out of their own pockets to have the cats neutered and then returned to the colony, an effort known as trap, neuter and return.
“We’ve talked about it, and Beverly and Mary want to use some of the money to set up a fund to help TNR efforts in Wetumpka,” Luck said. “Then we are considering making healthy donations to the Montgomery and Autauga county humane shelters.”
Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at mroney@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: What's next for Wetumpka's 'Cat ladies?'
