Woman admits beheading piglet in Chesapeake

CHESAPEAKE

A Portsmouth woman pleaded guilty in Circuit Court on Friday to charges related to beheading a piglet and leaving its head on the front porch of the animal's owner.

Ashley Fowler, 22, faces a maximum sentence of 50 years at a hearing scheduled for March 13.

Fowler pleaded guilty to two counts of killing or maiming livestock, one count of breaking and entering, and one count of possession of the drug Adderall.

Prosecutors will not pursue additional charges of breaking and entering and destruction of property that were part of Fowler's June indictment. The Adderall charge could be dropped if the defense can show that the drug was given to her by the parents of a child with attention deficit disorder. Fowler babysat the child, according to defense attorney Warren Kozak. That could be considered at the March 13 hearing.

Fowler was arrested Feb. 9 at her workplace a day after Janie Sawyer of Ballahack Road reported she had found a piglet's head on her front porch. She found another piglet lying in the barn stabbed so badly it had to be euthanized. Both pigs belonged to Sawyer's son, Zach. According to a search warrant affidavit, the incident had something to do with a breakup.

Additional details of the case were not released Friday.

Fowler pleaded guilty to breaking into the Northwest Baptist Church, which reported that three wooden crosses and three fire extinguishers had been stolen. Police found six fire extinguishers and a large wooden cross in Fowler's Ford Explorer. Also found were an ax, a large hunting knife, a camouflage boot, a black ski cap and gloves. Prosecutors declined to pursue a grand larceny charge that had initially been filed.

Jeff Hampton, (252) 338-0159, jeff.hampton@pilotonline.com