The Sherrard woman charged in an animal cruelty case has been arrested for unlawful communication with a witness. 59-year-old Karen Plambeck was taken into custody Thursday, according to a Mercer County Sheriff’s Department report. Bond was set at $35,000. She is being held at the Mercer County Jail.
Just last month Plambeck was charged with five Class 4 felony counts stemming from an investigation that involved the recovery of 198 dogs. A Sept. 7 first appearance has been set in that case with bond set at $25,000 of which she posted ten percent.
In May, Plambeck pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge in a 2019 animal cruelty case. She was placed on 24-months court supervision and fined $300. As part of the sentence, she was also required to allow IDNR, Illinois Department of Ag, or the Mercer County Animal Control office to come on her property without notice to check the status of her animals. She was originally facing five misdemeanor counts accusing her of failing to provide a sufficient quantity of good wholesome food to four horses she owned. Those charges were dismissed as part of her guilty plea to the disorderly conduct charge.