Mukwonago Horse Breeder Ralinda Howard Faces New Felony Bail Jumping Charges

Prosecutors charged Ralinda Howard, 70, with two counts of felony bail jumping on Tuesday, April 21, after Town of Mukwonago police executed a search warrant and found three dogs, three puppies and two cats on her property.[1] Despite a court order prohibiting her from possessing any animals, investigators noted two dogs in the basement lacked access to food or water.[1] The animals were turned over to the Humane Animal Welfare Society (HAWS).[1] Howard, a convicted felon from a 2011 misappropriation of identifying information case, already faces 11 felony counts of firearm possession after police discovered 11 guns in her home during prior investigations.[1][3][4] Town of Mukwonago police issued more than 40 citations for violations including exceeding livestock limits, animal mistreatment, inadequate food, water and shelter, and hazardous enclosures that injured horses.[1][3] On April 13, a Waukesha County court commissioner bound Howard over for trial on the gun charges after she entered not guilty pleas.[4] The new charges stem from additional bond violations: Howard admitted mailing a letter in March to whistleblower Lisa Vega, breaching a no-contact order.[1] A court commissioner set a $500 cash bond for the animal-related bail jumping and a $5,000 signature bond for the witness contact violation.[1] Howard maintains her innocence amid the mounting legal troubles in the rural Town of Mukwonago, about 30 miles west of Milwaukee.