TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2026, 2:13 P.M.
(WFRV) — The 37-year-old Wisconsin woman who faces 150+ animal mistreatment charges was in court on February 9 for a jury selection hearing, as many of those charges were dismissed.
Margarita Arrieta-Alcaide appeared with her attorney for the jury selection hearing while in custody, as the state amended the information to include charges 1-54, with dismissals for 55-174.
Clintons agree to testify in House Epstein investigation before contempt of Congress vote
Arrieta-Alcaide is still charged with 50+ misdemeanors relating to intentionally mistreating animals while improperly sheltering animals. One of the charges is felony mistreatment of animals leading to death. All charges are as a party to a crime.
Local 5 News will provide a new story on the verdict once details are available, as the jury trial begins Tuesday and is set to wrap up on Wednesday.
UPDATE: Wisconsin woman facing more than 150 animal mistreatment charges returns to court
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2026, 10:15 A.M.
(WFRV) — The 37-year-old Wisconsin woman facing more than 150 misdemeanor animal mistreatment charges and one felony count was back in court Monday.
Margarita Arrieta-Alcaide appeared with her attorney for a final pretrial hearing. Jury selection in the case is scheduled to begin Feb. 9.
Clintons agree to testify in House Epstein investigation before contempt of Congress vote
Arrieta-Alcaide is charged with dozens of misdemeanor counts alleging she intentionally failed to provide proper, structurally sound and sanitary shelter for animals in her care, violations of Wisconsin animal welfare laws. The charges stem from allegations of widespread neglect.
Local 5 News will continue to follow the case as it moves through the court system.
UPDATE: Wisconsin woman with 170+ charges of animal mistreatment set for another pre-trial hearing
January 13, 2026 – 2:09 p.m.
(WFRV) – The 37-year-old Wisconsin woman facing over 150 animal mistreatment misdemeanors and a felony charge in the same case is set for another final pre-trial hearing.
Court records show that Margarita Arrieta-Alcaide was in court for a final pre-trial hearing while in custody on Tuesday. Her present bond was continued.
Another final pre-trial hearing is set for February 2 at 2:45 p.m., with jury selection a week later.
Wisconsin woman with 170+ charges relating to alleged animal mistreatment set for trial
December 11, 2025 – 6:49 p.m.
(WFRV) – A Wisconsin woman charged with 170 animal mistreatment misdemeanors and a felony count of mistreatment of animals causing death is set for trial.
Wisconsin man indicted for alleged child exploitation from international undercover operation
Court records show that 37-year-old Margarita Arrieta-Alcaide was in court for a judicial pre-trial hearing while in custody on Wednesday afternoon.
Arrieta-Alcaide’s charges stem from a report of neglect and cruelty in Kenosha, with videos reportedly showing that her boyfriend, Luis Melendez, mistreated and left dogs in ‘nauseating’ conditions.
69-year-old Sturgeon Bay man facing three child sex crime charges set for two-day jury trial
Melendez faces nearly 200 charges, but some of his charges include bail jumping, along with animal mistreatment.
Arrieta-Alcaide and her attorney filed for a speedy trial, and the $25,000 present bond was continued. The court scheduled a final pre-trial hearing for January 13, 2026, at 8:30 a.m., with jury selection on February 9 at 8:30 a.m.
