Court date for Chandler woman, charged with animal abuse, moved to Feb. 13
Courtesy of Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office
Sydney McKinley, also known as April McGlaughlin, has been hit with fraud charges, in addition to well-publicized animal abuse allegations. Her next court date in her misdemeanor cases in Chandler Municipal Court is Feb. 13 of next year.
A woman who has been jailed and charged with multiple felonies has had a Chandler Municipal Court date moved again.
Sydney McKinley, also known as April McLaughlin, was jailed months ago and charged with multiple state felonies from her conduct while she was running an animal rescue out of her Chandler home.
She was initially arrested and jailed briefly in September 2023 after a warrant search and removal of 55 dogs from her home in the 1700 block of East Kesler Lane and still faces 77 misdemeanor charges in Chandler.
McKinley is due in Chandler Municipal Court, Courtroom 3, for a status conference at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025.
In September, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced McLaughlin’s indictment on fraud and five other charges — a total of eight felony counts. Those are separate from the 77 misdemeanors filed against her by the city of Chandler last year.
McKinley’s defense attorney asked the Chandler court to move back her status conference several times even before the state felonies were announced, in order to meet with the prosecution.
Mitchell said, in a written statement, that following the removal of about 55 dogs from McLaughlin’s home in September 2023, Chandler Police began a fraud investigation into McLaughlin and her rescue organization.
Police allege that McLaughlin deceived multiple dog owners and rescue organizations from across the country to obtain dogs that needed specialized care, the statement read.
Mitchell says McGlaughlin falsely claimed that dogs in her care had access to veterinarians, treatments, therapies, and foster homes.
McLaughlin is accused of using her nonprofit.
The nonprofit was called SNAWL, for Special Needs Animal Welfare League.
The indictment says McGlaughlin solicited donations and received more than $47,000 in cash and supplies.
Police also learned, the County Attorney’s statement reads, that McLaughlin stole more than $160,000 from her elderly mother’s bank account and charged more than $20,000 on her mother’s credit card.
The funds were used for home expenses, flights, restaurants and other costs, the county alleges. Mitchell said McKinley’s cases remain part of an open and ongoing investigation.
A municipal court judge ruled in October of last year that McGlaughlin cannot bring home 13 animals the defendant considered family pets.
Most recently, McKinley was due in Maricopa County Superior Court this week on the felony charges for a status conference; it wasn’t immediately clear if a new ruling or scheduling was made afterward.
There was also a “complex case joint case management report” recently submitted to Superior Court.
We invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this topic. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org. Email Jason W. Brooks at jbrooks@iniusa.org.
Jason W. Brooks News Editor | Chandler Independent
Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.
Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.
Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.
Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.
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