North Okanagan woman charged with animal cruelty facing new charge

VERNON – A North Okanagan woman currently facing animal cruelty charges was back in court today charged with driving while prohibited.

Chelsea Monique Beluse-Christman, born 1993, appeared at the Vernon courthouse requesting a two-week adjournment for her to seek legal counsel.

Beluse-Christman is facing one charge of driving a motor vehicle while prohibited from driving. The incident occurred in the Vernon area June 15.

Beluse-Christman made headlines earlier this year when the Irish Creek Road property where she lived with her mother was raided by the B.C. SPCA in March. The raid led to over 50 animals, including 42 horses, four dogs and four pigs, being seized by authorities.

Beluse-Christman and her mother, Carla Christman, were charged with causing unnecessary pain and suffering to an animal, failing to provide the necessaries for an animal, as well as other charges. The case is currently working its way through the court system.

One of the veterinarians involved in the investigation described the property as "the worst situation" she'd seen in 30 years.

A May 29 B.C. Farm Industry Review Board decision regarding the raid revealed a history of neglected animals on the farm, along with decomposing animal corpses and stated that Christman failed to act after several verbal warnings were given.

Ten days before the animals were seized from the Irish Creek property, it was destroyed by fire March 25.

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