FARMINGTON — A woman convicted of animal cruelty who’s been in jail recently on charges she resisted police received minor injuries Monday morning when she stumbled leaving Franklin County Superior Court on the way to a transport van in the parking lot, Sheriff Scott Nichols said.
Carol Murphy, 71, a Franklin County inmate from New Sharon, appeared in court Monday morning for a status conference on a contempt of court violation that she faces in connection to violating two court orders prohibiting her from possessing animals.
Murphy’s hands and legs were shackled while she was leaving the courthouse with transport officer Cpl. Phil Richards, as is Franklin County Jail protocol when transporting inmates outside of the jail, Nichols said.
As she was leaving the courthouse around 11 a.m., she stumbled on the last step, falling on her knees and head.
“Because she was shackled she couldn’t break her fall very well,” Nichols said.
Richards called for rescue to respond, and Murphy was taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital for further medical evaluation.
Nichols believed she received stitches for a cut on her head, but he was not certain. Franklin Memorial Hospital did not immediately return a call Monday seeking an update on her injuries.
Murphy was returned to the jail Monday afternoon and is being held on $1,000 cash bail. She’s been jailed since an Oct. 15 incident when a Franklin County deputy attempted to stop Murphy’s vehicle for a traffic violation. Murphy refused to comply with the deputy’s commands and remained hostile after leading the officer to her home on Lane Road, police said.
Deputy Andrew Morgan ultimately stunned Murphy with a Taser. After receiving medical attention, she was arrested for violating condition of release, refusing to submit to arrest, refusing to stop for a police officer and refusing to sign a summons.
Murphy has been in legal trouble because of a contempt of court charge from 2014 after she allegedly violated two court-ordered lifetime bans on animal possession. In 2005 and again in 2010, Murphy was convicted of animal cruelty after the state seized more than 40 pets from her home that had been living in inhumane conditions.
Murphy previously has disputed court and police jurisdiction over her. She has told the court that she is “not a U.S. citizen,” instead referring to herself as a citizen of the Republic of Maine, a claim that’s been denied.
Lauren Abbate — 861-9252
Twitter: @Lauren_M_Abbate
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