Winsted woman facing dozens of animal cruelty charges appears in court

Sarah Smolak, right, appears with her attorney James Saraceni at state Superior Court in Torrington Thursday, May 8, 2025. – H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media

Adelina Yarashev, of Brooklyn, N.Y., wipes away a tear as she gathers with other animal rights supporters who attended an appearance by Sarah Smolak at state Superior Court in Torrington Thursday, May 8, 2025. Yarashev is a manager with AMA Animal Rescue in Brooklyn, the group that originally fostered the dog Marshmallow who went missing while under Smolak’s care. – H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media

CT INSIDER | by Brigitte Ruthmman, Staff Writer | May 8, 2025 |

TORRINGTON — A Superior Court judge Thursday assigned an attorney to represent the interests of justice when a Winsted woman facing dozens of charges of animal cruelty appeared in court.

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Sarah Smolak, 28, said nothing when she appeared along with her attorney, James Saraceni of Norwalk.

Judge Ann E. Lynch appointed Jonathan Levitan to represent "justice" with regard to the prosecution of Smolak, who is charged with 39 counts of animal cruelty. His appointment stems from Public Act 16-30, an "Act Concerning Support for Cats and Dogs That Are Neglected or Treated Cruelly," which allows for the "separate advocate be appointed to represent the interest of justice."

Also known as Desmond's Law, it requires advocates to be approved by the Commissioner of Agriculture. 

Lynch approved Levitan's appointment, saying, "Your name is on the list as an attorney knowledgeable of animal interests."

Smolak waited in a private location Thursday morning until her case was called. She had failed to appear for an April court date after Saraceni said she feared appearing in public because of death threats.

A "pro forma, jury election" plea was entered as a matter of record, which is routine until a defendant is presented with a plea offer or elects trial as the case moves forward. Smolak did not speak or enter a plea Thursday. Her case was  continued to July 1 with orders to not possess animals while the case is pending.

AMA Animal Rescue spokesman Michele Walsh said Thursday that three things had been accomplished: Smolak appeared, Levitan was appointed and civil litigation is being pursued by the town of Winsted to gain ownership of the animals removed from Smolak's home.

By a motion of "replevin action" by Levitan, Smolak will be ordered to produce a missing pitbull named Marshmallow, if a judge orders it.

A civil action also is expected to be filed by the town of Winsted to gain ownership of 21 dogs seized from Smolak's home in March by Winsted police. Smolak has not indicated in court whether she would attempt to retain ownership of the dogs, but has indicated to Winsted Detective James Crean that she wanted to retain them.

Walsh indicated that there are a multitude of rescue organizations that have stepped up to find homes for the dogs.

"We were pleased to see that attorney Levitan was appointed to pursue justice for these animals and for the world to be able to see in the interest of justice the images of this person accused of so much abuse against these animals," Walsh said.

Smolak walked into a courtroom wearing a black shirt and brown pants. In the public section of the courtroom were  25 animal rights advocates representing Desmond’s Army Animal Law Advocates and AMA Animal Rescue. 

Permission for photographing the event by media was granted by Lynch, over Saraceni's objections that his client's exposure to harm was increased by media coverage.

Many of those in attendance wore T-shirts depicting a missing pitbull named Marshmallow that triggered an investigation and revealed a number of dogs said to have been in poor health while in Smolak's care. Smolak boarded and trained dogs in exchange for money, police have said.

Marshmallow has not been found. An $8,000 reward has been jointly offered by the groups for his return or the arrest of anyone responsible for his disappearance.

Smolak, 28, now has four warrants alleging animal cruelty pending against her as a result of alleged crimes in Winsted, all of them related to 38 dogs believed to have been in her care. Of those, 21 now are under the supervision of the Harwinton Regional Animal Control shelter and are housed either at the Harwinton shelter or an overflow location. Some have been returned to owners or fostering agencies that paid her to care for them, authorities say.

On March 18, police seized 27 dogs, several of which were malnourished and needed veterinary care. Another 11 dogs were said by police to have been mistreated previously in her care in Winsted.

An additional animal cruelty charge is now pending against her in Norwalk, where she lived prior to moving to Winsted in February.

She is also facing charges in Norwalk for allegedly causing $100,000 in damages to the rental property where she lived, where feces and urine were said to have permeated the floors.

Her boyfriend, 28-year-old David Reid, also faces one count of animal cruelty.

Efforts to sever Smolak's rights to any of the dogs seized from her home are being pursued by AMA Animal Rescue through their attorney and the town of Winsted.

Winsted Town Manager Paul Harrington said late in the day Thursday that he expected civil motions to be filed Friday, with the intention of "severing" Smolak's ownership of any dogs seized from her home so they can be placed in foster care.

"We have foster spots available for all of them," Harrington said.

Levitan said Thursday he was acting "in the interest of justice."

"It's all about the animals, not about Sarah," said Levitan, who filed a motion Thursday demanding information about Marshmallow's whereabouts. "We want those dogs in a nice home."