Convicted rabbit hoarder Miriam Sakewitz was sentenced to three days in jail Thursday for violating probation. She was found with more rabbits in her home.

KGW Photo

Miriam Sakewitz talks to KGW.

The Hillsboro woman was arrested last year for animal neglect after deputies found more than 150 rabbits in her home and yard. They found 88 more dead rabbits in her freezers and refrigerators.

Sakewitz was sentenced to five years probation in April after pleading no contest to five counts of animal neglect. She also pleaded no contest to second-degree criminal mischief and tampering with evidence for breaking into a secret location where police were holding her rabbits and stealing them back. The terms of the pleas included a ban against possessing rabbits during her probation.

Sakewitz’s attorney Matthew Daily said Thursday he didn’t think it was a fair outcome and felt the case was blown way out of proportion. “She feels persecuted,” said Daily. “She has neighbors peering over their fences at her and watching her all the time.” He added, “No one wants to live in a fish bowl and apparently for the next five years she’s going to be living in a fish bowl.” He claimed a rabbit seen in his client’s home belonged to a friend who was visiting. He also said Sakewitz wasn’t aware of a stipulation of her probation that banned her from being within 100-yards of rabbits.

The judge ordered Sakewitz to continue the terms of her probation upon release from jail. That included an order to get a psychological evaluation and attend mental health counseling.

Sakewitz was led away in handcuffs after the hearing to the Washington County Jail.